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Omar Ayub Writes to Speaker, Accuses NA of Censorship and Breach of Privilege
Opposition leader Omar Ayub slams NA for censoring his speech, calling it a "serious breach of privilege" and violation of free speech in Parliament.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-06
Omar Ayub Writes to Speaker, Accuses NA of Censorship and Breach of Privilege

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, on Tuesday strongly protested what he called the "censoring" of his speech in Parliament, accusing the National Assembly Secretariat of violating constitutional guarantees and undermining democratic transparency.

In a formal letter addressed to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Khan expressed disappointment and frustration over the blocking of the live broadcast of his speech, despite previous assurances made by the speaker himself.

“Despite your ruling and personal commitment made on the floor of the House, my speech was, in fact, blocked, censored, and the continuity of parliamentary proceedings and debate was deliberately interrupted by the Media and Photography Wing of the NA,” Ayub wrote.

He alleged that the suppression of his speech was carried out in direct violation of the speaker’s explicit ruling and damaged the transparency and integrity of the parliamentary process.

The opposition leader pointed out that his request for live, uninterrupted transmission of his speech—on both Parliament TV and national media—was promised but not honored. He further claimed that when he sought access to the official audio and video recordings, his request was denied without justification, even though no part of his speech had been ordered to be expunged.

Ayub specifically named Secretary General of the National Assembly Mr. Tahir Hussain and Director General (Media) Mr. Zafar Sultan Khan, accusing them of "willfully disregarding" the speaker's directive and violating the opposition’s right to fair participation and coverage.

“Their conduct has undermined both the authority of the speaker and the institutional integrity of this House,” he charged, adding that such actions amount to a serious breach of parliamentary privilege.

He cited Article 66 of the Constitution, which provides members of Parliament with absolute freedom of speech in the House and protection from legal proceedings over remarks made during sessions.

“This constitutional guarantee safeguards the right of members to speak freely and to have their voices heard fully, both within and beyond the House,” he asserted.

This is not the first time Omar Ayub has raised the issue. In March last year, he similarly accused the National Assembly’s media wing of deliberately cutting off his speech, contrasting it with the live airing of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address after being elected.

He alleged, “His speech was shown live and mine was interrupted again and again.”

The latest development raises concerns about media control and transparency within parliamentary proceedings, especially regarding opposition voices. The National Assembly Secretariat and the speaker's office have yet to respond to the allegations publicly.

 
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