The Balochistan High Court on Wednesday declared that the members of Balochistan Assembly who had shown their ballot in the no-trust motion against speaker had violated the sanctity of secret balloting.
A division bench of the Balochistan High Court comprising Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Muhammad Nawaz Muskanzai passed these remarks while issuing detailed judgment on Balochistan Assembly former speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani’s application.
“It is expected that the speaker, being the custodian of the House, may initiate strict action against those guilty of violating the rules and disgracing the assembly,” they said.
The bench, in a short verdict, had rejected Bhootani’s application.
The court said that objection had been raised on five members in the application, adding that if those five votes were deducted, there were still 42 votes against the speaker out of total 65.
The court further said that if some members had disclosed their secret ballots, the entire process could not be termed as illegal.
The court said that the constitution in no way prevented the legislature to proceed against its own members for the breach of a privilege or any rule. Hence, the court said the jurisdiction belonged exclusively to the House over its members.
After going through the photographs annexed with the petition, the court observed that a few members exhibited their ballot papers openly to the officials and had violated sanctity of the secret ballot. The further court said the alleged act of the members was a violation of the prescribed rules. The court added that an infringement of these general rules, which were injurious to the dignity of the House, was liable to be dealt with accordingly by the House.
Assembly speaker sent packing
Balochistan Assembly Secretary Zahoor Ahmad Baloch on Wednesday was removed from his post for maintaining his stance that the no-confidence vote against former speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani was illegal. Balochistan Assembly Additional Secretary Azam Davi replaced the outgoing secretary and assumed office. Zahoor Baloch, while addressing a press conference, had declared the procedure of the no-trust move by provincial government against the then speaker Aslam Bhootani in violation of rules and regulations.
