The provincial government and members from the decision Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have taken solid exemption to the capture of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in Islamabad by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday, naming it an illicit and unlawful advance.

The gathering has chosen to test the capture in the court and challenge in the up and coming session of the Sindh Assembly, booked for February 27.

The gathering’s administrator, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took to Twitter to lash out against the move. “Assault on Speaker of the combining unit is unsatisfactory,” he tweeted. “Undemocratic endeavor to remove Sindh govt. Bombed before will flop once more. Autonomous foundations shouldn’t accidentally be a piece of political building,” he included.

His sister, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, additionally communicated her worry on the small scale blogging stage. “Executive Bilawal was set on leave control list to post his Dec 27 discourse and later PTI completed a question and answer session professing to assume control Sindh. There has been no nuance on what PTI need. Cases and ECL for Sindh boss clergyman and capture of the speaker, all affront to Pakistan and majority rule government.”

Durrani, who was confronting a request identifying with the collection of “advantages past known wellsprings of pay,” was captured by NAB Karachi in Islamabad. In the wake of getting his travel remand, he will be moved to Karachi for further examination today [Wednesday].

This is the first occasion when that a sitting Speaker of an authoritative get together has been captured in the nation.

A source aware of the improvement revealed to The Express Tribune that two different requests of defilement and illicit arrangements are as of now pending before the NAB against Durrani. “He has been captured in the advantages past methods request, yet the NAB will likewise investigate different request against him,” said the source, including that there has been enormously botching in the development of MPA’s Hostel of the Sindh Assembly and many individuals were given employments in the neighborhood government office infringing upon the guidelines when Durrani was pastor of the office from 2008 to 2013.

Sindh govt’s stance

According to the Sindh government, the Speaker is the custodian of the House representing 168 MPAs elected from various constituencies of the province. Therefore, he [Durrani] cannot be arrested merely on the basis of an inquiry. But the NAB officials were of the view that the arrest came after Durrani did not present himself before the inquiry committee, even after being issued three notices.

Soon after news of his arrest, PPP ministers held a press conference, where they alleged that there were separate sets of laws operational – one for the PPP and another for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and its allies.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who was flanked by provincial ministers, including Syed Awais Shah and Shabbir Khan Bajarani, referred to the Constitution and said, “The arrest of Speaker Durrani was a breach of Article 25 of the Constitution under which all citizens are equal and entitled to equal protection before the law. No reference or case is registered against him. He is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

Quoting inquiries against incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet members, including the National Assembly speaker and Punjab Assembly speaker, Barrister Wahab said, “None of them have been arrested. On the contrary, they are enjoying all perks and privileges and full protocol.”

Transport Minister Owais Shah called Durrani a custodian of the Sindh Assembly elected by 99 MPAs. “The NAB has breached the privilege of the Sindh Assembly. We will protest it on all forums,” he said.

“We are not against the accountability process, but want to know why such actions are not being taken against opposition parties [in Sindh Assembly],” he said, adding that they will devise a strategy on it soon.

The PPP ministers were of the opinion that the people of Sindh were being victimized as they had voted for PPP, but the PTI would not succeed in its nefarious designs.

Later in the evening, the PPP leaders gathered at the Chief Minister House to devise a strategy in light of Durrani’s arrest. The meeting decided to approach the court against the move as well as take up the matter in the upcoming session of the provincial assembly.

PTI demands resignation

On the other hand, the PTI’s Sindh lawmakers demanded the resignation of the Speaker, given his involvement in corruption cases. MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman, who is also the party’s city chief said, “Agha Siraj Durrani has lost the moral authority to remain on the seat. He himself should resign.”

Zaman added that all the local bodies’ ministers, who had ruled Sindh in the past, were on the NAB’s radar. “Corruption will end in Pakistan,” he said. Referring to the resignations of PTI lawmakers Aleem Khan, Babar Awan and Azam Swati, Zaman called on the PPP to follow the PTI’s example and replace the speaker.

Sindh Assembly session

The Sindh Assembly session has been summoned for February 27. According to officials, under the prevalent circumstances, the deputy speaker, Rehana Leghari, will chair the session.

“If the speaker is on leave or absent for some reasons the deputy speaker will work as the acting speaker,” the Sindh Assembly Secretary told The Express Tribune, while referring to Article 30 of the Constitution.  “The acting speaker can issue his production order to attend the session,” said the secretary. When asked who would chair the session if Durrani came to the Assembly, he said, “He is the speaker and will preside over the session whenever he is in the Assembly.”

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