Speaker turns down Opposition’s motion to send Government members to Privileges Committee

The Opposition's request was made in response to what they declared as abusive and threatening language hurled at Opposition Members during their protest of the Natural Resource Fund Bill inside the National Assembly last December.

Speaker turns down Opposition’s motion to send Government members to Privileges Committee

Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir began this morning’s sitting of the National Assembly by announcing that he has decided not to allow the Opposition’s motion to send 22 Government Members of Parliament to the Committee of Privileges.

The Opposition’s request was made in response to what they declared as abusive and threatening language hurled at Opposition Members during their protest of the Natural Resource Fund Bill inside the National Assembly last December.

In handing down his decision, the Speaker said the Opposition had failed to prove its case based on its motion. The Speaker also declared to the Opposition that “you can’t bring a legal action for your illegal actions” in the first place.

In response, Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir said any appearance by Opposition Members before the Privileges Committee would be mute, since based on his pronouncements this morning, the Speaker has already arrived at a decision.

Eight Opposition Members have been referred to the Privileges Committee over their protest in the National Assembly. The Privileges Committee is made up of an equal number of members from the Government and the Opposition side, with the Speaker serving as its Chairman and deciding vote in the case of a tie.

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