Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday ordered investigation into the harassment allegations of lawmaker Ayesha Gulalai Wazir against Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.
Intervening in the debate on the issue in the house on Friday, Mr Abbasi ordered the establishment of a Special Committee of the National Assembly to probe allegations levelled by Ms Wazir against Mr Khan. He said that the proceedings of the special committee should be held in-camera.
The Prime Minister said that one member of the assembly had levelled allegations against another and it would be appropriate to handle it at the level of the house. Mr Abbasi said it was a question of honour and dignity of the house and “we have to enhance its prestige”, adding that investigations by the special committee would allow both sides to defend themselves.
He also ordered the inspector general of Islamabad police to provide security to Ms Wazir. A political bombshell hit the PTI on Tuesday, with member of the National Assembly Ayesha Gulalai Wazir quitting the party amid allegations of harassment against Mr Khan and other top leaders. At a press conference, she accused Mr Khan and “the men around him” of inappropriate behaviour with women. “Women workers are not respected in the PTI and a respectable woman worker cannot remain in the party,” the lawmaker added.
Ms Wazir also accused PTI leaders of sending “inappropriate text messages.”
Directly accusing Mr Khan, Ms Wazir claimed that the PTI chief used a BlackBerry phone for the sole purpose of ensuring that his messages were not traced. She refused, however, to reveal the contents of the messages, saying, “No one with any honour would be able to stomach the sort of language used.”
Earlier on Friday, the National Assembly passed a resolution to set up a special committee to probe allegations levelled by Ms Wazir. The resolution was moved by Arafa Khalid in the House. Arafa Khalid said that the special committee would present its report within 60 days after holding inquiry into the allegation levelled by Ayesha Gulali reported in the media. The committee would hold in-camera proceedings.
