New amendment: Speaker’s approval must before arresting a lawmaker

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday adopted amendments in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the lower house which require authorities to seek the NA speaker’s approval prior to arresting a lawmaker.

Under the amendments, approval of the Speaker shall be required before the arrest and detention of a member on a criminal charge, and no member shall be arrested within the precincts of the Assembly.

The amendment was moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi seeking substitution of rule 103 of the Rules of Procedure.

“When a member has to be arrested on a criminal charge or for a criminal offence or has to be detained under an executive order, the committing judge, magistrate or executive authority, as the case may be, shall immediately seek approval of the Speaker indicating the reasons for the arrest or detention, as the case may be, and after such arrest, detention or when a member is sentenced to imprisonment by a court of law, the committing judge, magistrate or executive authority, as the case may be shall intimate the place of detention or imprisonment of the member in the appropriate form set out in the Fourth schedule”.

Agenda for today’s session of the National Assembly.#NASession #NAatWork pic.twitter.com/MquyFbhtFU

— National Assembly of 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) October 20, 2022

Earlier, only intimation was made to the Speaker by Magistrate for arrest or detention, of a member while approval of the Speaker would be required to arrest any MNA following the approval of this amendment.

The previous Rule 106 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the National House, 2007 stated that no member shall be arrested within the precincts of the Assembly without permission of the Speaker.

In addition, Minister for Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif moved amendments declaring the production order of detained MNA mandatory during the proceedings.