Zardari and Saad Rafique get production orders for NA session

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser late on Wednesday night issued production orders for incarcerated opposition leaders, Pakistan People Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Khawaja Saad Rafique, paving way for them to attend the ongoing budget session in the lower house of parliament.

Both leaders were arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in separate corruption cases. Senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah confirmed the development, saying the speaker personally informed him of the move. “Better late than never,” he remarked.

The production orders were handed over to PPP leaders Shazia Marri, Qadir Patel, Shagufta Jumani and Agha Rafiullah, who were all in attendance at the National Assembly Secretariat for the same.The production orders were issued under rule 108 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in National Assembly 2007.  The ongoing budget session will continue till June 29.