Soon after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) returned to the parliament after the report by the judicial commission opposition parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) moved motions on Wednesday to vacate the seats of 28 PTI members of the National Assembly under clause 2 of article 64 of the constitution of Pakistan.
The clause 2 of article 64 states that, A House may declare the seat of a member vacant if, without leave of the House, he remains absent for forty consecutive days of its sittings.
However, soon after the motion was moved by MQM and JUI-F it emerged that it was not just the 28 PTI lawmakers who remained absent for more than 40 days from the parliament. A few lawmakers belonging to other parties have also remained absent for the same duration which included some PMLN lawmakers too.
Despite loud claims by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), MQM and JUI-F regarding de-seating the PTI lawmakers it was obvious that such a step won’t be taken as it will give PTI a massive lift. What was extremely saddening though that the ruling party, the MQM and JUI-F all dilly-dallied on the issue in the National Assembly while issues of far serious nature like the flood crisis, MQM’s continued tirade against the country’s law enforcing agencies and the continued aggression from our eastern neighbor.
As expected after more than 2 weeks of wrangling and loud claims regarding the de-seating of PTI lawmakers and the sanctity of the constitution MQM and JUI-F unconditionally withdrew their motions against the de-seating of PTI lawmakers. If it was already planned that the motion will be taken back was their any need to keep the parliament occupied with this non issue when the country is facing issues of far serious nature?
The hullabaloo regarding de-seating of PTI lawmakers overshadowed issues of far serious nature.