Salman Rafiq's production orders issued

LAHORE - Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Tuesday said that he, as Speaker Punjab Assembly, had issued production orders of the opposition MPA Khawaja Salman Rafiq who had been in the NAB custody.

Talking to the media men prior to the Punjab Assembly (PA) session here, he said Khawaja Salman Rafiq would attend Punjab Assembly session today or tomorrow.

The Speaker PA said it was a historic moment for the Punjab Assembly, adding that previously three provincial assemblies including KPK, Sindh, Balochistan and the National Assembly could issue production orders while Punjab Assembly did not have the right to do so.

To a question, he said he had consulted Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Provincial Law Minister Basharat Ali Raja and parliamentarians on the issue.

To another question he said opposition was part of the august house and he respected their opinion, adding that the credit for the issuance of production orders went to the government as well as the opposition.

Regarding the production order, he said, "It is my responsibility, as Speaker Punjab Assembly, to work for the strengthening of the house and he will continue to work for it."

To another question, Pervaiz Elahi said the PTI government had laid the foundation of a strong democratic tradition.

Later in the day, the NAB officials produced Khawaja Salman Rafiq in the Punjab Assembly and he attended the Punjab Assembly session as a result of the production orders.