PML-N resolutions demand K-P speaker, FM resignations

Say the two MPAs should step down till corruption probes against them end

PESHAWAR: Using the same argument that the PTI has used for demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation, the PML-N has filed two resolutions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly, seeking resignation of the legislature’s speaker and the provincial finance minister.

The resolutions were filed in the K-P Assembly Secretariat on Friday by PML-N leaders Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota, Sobia Shahid, Amina Sardar and Ruqia Khan.

They state that since Speaker Asad Qaiser and Finance Minister Muzaffar Said are being investigated over corruption charges, the must step down till the completion of the probe. Qaiser belongs to the PTI while Said is a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI’s coalition partner.

The first resolution says that the speaker is facing allegations of millions of rupees corruption and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has given approval for a probe against him.



“Taking care of decorum of the office, the K-P Assembly speaker should resign from his office until he gets cleared from all the allegations. His resignation is needed for the fair investigations against him,” demands the resolution.

In March, the NAB chairman gave approval for the verification of a complaint lodged against Qaiser for allegedly making assets beyond his known sources of income.

In the second resolution, the PML-N has demanded judicial inquiry into the Bank of Khyber scandal which surfaced in April 2016. It has demanded resignation of Said for his alleged involvement in using banks resources for party’s political activities and for illegal appointments in the banks.

Last year in April, the bank’s managing director published an advertisement against the finance minister, accusing him of illegal appointments and using bank’s resources for the JI rallies. The bank later on took back all its allegations against Said in another advertisement published in September 2016.



Nalota and his fellow lawmakers have sought judicial inquiry into the case under the supervision of the Peshawar High Court chief justice or through the K-P Ehtesab Commission.

“Since no appropriate enquiry was conducted in the case and the issue was sidelined without using the government’s power, while the corruption of finance minister caused losses to the bank worth millions of rupees; thus we demand of the provincial government to conduct inquiry of the case via chief justice Peshawar High Court or K-P Ehtesab Commission,” the resolution states.

The resolution claims that Said should resign from his post unless everything in the case is completely cleared.  “JI chief Sirajul Haq raise slogans of corruption-free Pakistan but he can’t see corruption in his own house,” it reads.

PPP demands PM’s resignation

Separately, PPP parliamentary leader in the K-P Assembly Muhammad Ali Shah has submitted a resolution seeking resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in view of the damning report from the Panamagate Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

“The prime minister and his team are now in panic and they are humiliating Pakistan’s top institutions which is why this assembly demands the resignation of the prime minister,” says the resolution, submitted on Friday in the K-P Assembly Secretariat.