LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed a repeat of the events that transpired late last month when Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s lawmakers made their way to the National Assembly for verification of their resignations. On Friday, PTI’s provincial lawmakers maintained their stance on en masse verification while the speaker remained in his chamber waiting for each lawmaker, individually.
Speaker Punjab Assembly had summoned all the resigned PTI MPAs on Friday to verify their resignations which had been submitted collectively on August 27. But all the 29 MPAs, like the PTI MNAs, insisted on en masse verification after a deadlock which continued for well over three hours.
A similar stance was taken by 25 resigned PTI MNAs who had made their way to the NA on October 29 for resignation verification.
Party members had also held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the ongoing issue of the resignations.
On Friday morning, PTI MPAs arrived at the Punjab Assembly a little after 11am on Friday chanting Go Nawaz Go. Of the 30 PTI MPAs in the Assembly, 29 had resigned in August. MPA Nighat Intesar, who was reported to be out of the country initially, is now being reported to be ill by party sources. She has not tendered her resignation.
While conflicting reports of the total number of PTI lawmakers arriving at the Assembly for verification had surfaced in the morning, all the 29 MPAs eventually gathered.
PTI MNAs under the leadership of opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed made their way to the conference room adjacent to the Speaker’s chamber, insisting on en masse verification of their resignations.
After a gap, the PTI lawmakers were followed into the conference room by provincial Law Minister MPA Rana Sanaullah, along with spokesperson of the Punjab government MPA Zaeem Qadri prompting talks.
Deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani was also present as the government and PTI lawmakers talked. Gorchani, while speaking to the media before heading in to the conference room had said that they had doubts over the authenticity of five resignation letters, there was an overriding need to verify all of the submitted resignations individually.
Meanwhile, with PTI MPA Mehmoodur Rasheed insisted that the speaker make his way from the chamber to the conference room where all the PTI MPAs were seated. But the secretary to the speaker, Rai Mumtaz, interevened. The secretary informed the PTI lawmakers that according to the rules of procedure, the speaker will need to individually verify each of the resignations submitted.
But the speaker’s patience was to expire before PTI lawmakers’ stubbornness wore out. Having spent over five hours in his chamber, the speaker left at 3:30pm.
Speaking to the media, Muhammad Rana Iqbal said that 10 minutes had been dedicated for individual verification of each resignation of the MPAs. “I was asked to come in the conference room for verification where all the PTI MPAs were seated,” he said, but explained that “it is necessary for me to verify in accordance with the rules.”
The matter of resignations of PTI lawmakers became contentious after PTI MNA, Siraj Muhammad Khan sent a letter to the NA speaker claiming that his resignation was not voluntary throwing wind to cries of forceful resignations from the government. The PTI, though, had dismissed it as ‘horse trading’ by the government.
Speaking to the media after the deadlock, Sanaullah said in light of recent events it was vital that individual verification of resignations is carried out to avoid any confusion, especially after the emergence of the Siraj Khan’s case.
“PTI doesn’t want to resign and we don’t want them to resign,” he said adding further that if anyone was intent on resigning, nothing could stop them, but he critcised Imran Khan’s ‘suicidal’ political approach stressing that the party needed to play a positive role inside the parliament.
Disregarding the stance of the speaker, PTI’s Rasheed maintained that if the resignations had been accepted collectively, their verification should also follow similar procedures. “Our resignations have been pending for over a month and a half. If there was any forced resignation, there was plenty of time for anyone to speak out.”
Rasheed said despite twice sending requests to the speaker for verification of the resignations in the conference room, there was no progress. “We all were present here in the assembly and resigned of our free will. That should dispel any doubts regarding the resignations.”
He added that a future course of action would be determined after consultation with party leadership.
Earlier, addressing the media, Rasheed had questioned why each MPA had to be seen on an individual basis when all MPAs decided to resign together.
He requested the speaker to see all 29 MPAs together and ensured that their decision to resign was free-willed and had not been forced.
"We request the speaker to come and see us all together. We will be waiting after Friday prayers and want to address the issue together," Rashid said.
He added that they had submitted their resignations as per their party policy and there should be no excuses in not accepting their resignations.
Meanwhile, sources said that the resignations will only be accepted when the speaker is convinced that they are genuine and were submitted at their own will.
Many resignations did not look genuine and some were not even addressed to the speaker, sources added.
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COMMENTS (3)
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@S A M: if they won't speak up kick them out take it out of their hands
They only resigned under duress. They won't give up their seats voluntarily.
This is ridiculous under the rules if a member doesn't attend for 40 days they are kicked out, the ball is in the PMLN court why are they not accepting resignations added to that PMLN's atrocious came that they don't want to resign they are here take their resignations