Shahid advises to observe Parliament regulations when arresting MPs

Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Shahid has sent a letter to Commissioner of Police Abdullah Riyaz in response to Riyaz’s statement that it is not possible to act according to the Parliament Rules of Procedure when arresting Members of Parliament (MPs) at protests.

Through a press statement issued by the Parliament today, Shahid stressed that the Speaker of Parliament must be informed if an MP is taken under arrest, as stipulated in the Parliament Rules of Procedure, because this regulation had been created under article 88 of the Constitution and passed by the Parliament.

Riyaz said last Thursday that the Speaker can be informed only in the event that an MP is arrested following a court order during the investigation process.

He pointed out that MPs are arrested for breaking the law during protests, and that these arrests are not planned; making it impossible to inform the Speaker before taking them under arrest.

Riyaz noted that it is sometimes not possible for the Police at the protest area even to inform the Commissioner of Police immediately following the arrest of an MP; however, as soon as any senior Police official is informed, efforts are made to convey the message to the Speaker.