- JUI’s Fazl says will take back motion against PTI if govt succeeds in convincing his party
- MQM’s Sattar says PTI should request parliament to condone their 40-day absence from proceedings
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday delayed till Thursday the matter of voting on the motions submitted by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) seeking to de-seat members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The MQM and JUI-F had moved motions to vacate the seats of 28 PTI members of the National Assembly (MNAs) under Clause 2 of Article 64 of the Constitution over their absence without leave from the assembly sittings for 40 consecutive days during the party’s sit-in in Islamabad.
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said that motions should be deferred for a few days to complete the consultation with fellow legislators, politicians and party members.
“If the government and the other political parties succeed in convincing us to withdraw the motion then we will take it back,” the JUI-F chief said, adding that his party wants the supremacy of the constitution and continuation of political system in the country.
MQM’s parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that the strengthening of democracy is not possible without abiding by the constitution. “A request should come from PTI leadership for condoning their absence from the parliament for 40 days,” he said.
Leaders belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) persuaded the MQM and JUI-F to take back the resolutions.
Earlier during the day, State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed had also requested the leadership of the JUI-F and MQM to withdraw their motions regarding de-seating of 28 members of the PTI.
PTI stages walkout:
Members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Shah Mahmood Qureshi staged a walkout from the National Assembly, maintaining that they do not want to ruin the atmosphere of the session by their presence.
“We are elected and are not going to beg anyone for mercy on this matter,” Qureshi told journalists outside the National Assembly.
The PTI leader maintained that no party has shown concern over our return to parliament except for JUI and MQM but they will not sit in the Lower House until their fate is decided.
Qureshi said that his party left no stone unturned to resolve the ‘rigging’ issue through judicial means but the efforts met with disappointment, forcing the party to stage a sit-in. “Then the govt set up an inquiry commission, it ruled and we accepted its verdict,” he said, adding that PTI lawmakers only offered their resignations in protest against the unjust attitude of the government.
Earlier Finance Minister Ishaq Dar requested MQM and JUI-F to take back their resolutions while the NA speaker also announced that he still stands by his decision of not accepting the PTI MNAs’ resignations.
Speaker Sadiq also held a meeting with the parliamentary leaders regarding the issue of de-seating of PTI members but failed to convince the leaders of the JUI-F and MQM to withdraw their motions.
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that the motions moved by the JUI-F and MQM will take time to find a solution.
