ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Tuesday deferred voting by one week on two resolutions, submitted by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), to de-seat members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) from the NA owing to their absence from the lower house of parliament during the party’s 126-day sit-in in Islamabad.
The resolutions were moved MQM member Muhammad Salman Khan Baloch and JUI-F member Naeema Kishwar Khan that seats of 28 members of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf be declared vacant under clause (2) of Article 64 of the Constitution, who were absent without leave of the Assembly, for forty consecutive days of its sittings.
Speaking on the issue, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said they want to resolve the matter with consensus by taking the allies and other parties on board. He expressed the confidence that they will handle the issue in a better way. He pointed out that putting these resolutions for voting right now will be counterproductive. On the insistence of the Finance Minister and taking sense of the House, the chair deferred the resolutions.
Earlier, on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah said that the issue of resignations of PTI members should not be prolonged and be decided once for all. He said the environment is good and in favour of the government to resolve this issue.
Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Vice Chairman PTI, said two resolutions regarding deseating of 28 PTI members are on the agenda today and demanded that these should not be deferred and a decision taken in this regard. He said demands were made that PTI members should come to Parliament and play their role. He said they have accepted the decision of the Judicial Commission and are playing their role. He said there are also positive indications from the government. He said we should go forward leaving these petty issues. He said prolonging of this issue is not in the interest of the House and democracy.
Jamshed Dasti and Sahibzada Tariqullah urged JUI-F and MQM to withdraw their resolutions for the sake of democracy.
Naeema Kishwar Khan of JUI-F said they do not consider the PTI members as members of the House after submitting their resignations.
MQM members Asif Hasnain, Kanwar Naveed Jamil and Rashid Godil said this is not a petty issue and should be resolved according to the law and constitution. They said PTI members should themselves vacate their seats and by-elections should be held on them.
INP
