MNAs that quit PML-N, have not resigned from house

4 have yet to resign from NA; 3 sent resignations but have not met NA speaker to confirm them


Qadeer Tanoli April 18, 2018
PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The eight parliamentarians who recently announced quitting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are still enjoying the perks and privileges of the National Assembly’s membership.

Only three of them have sent their resignations to NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, said a statement issued by media director of the National Assembly Secretariat. When the NA speaker invited them “to verify the genuineness and voluntary character of their resignations on Monday”, the three MNAs — Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, Tahir Bashir Cheema and Makhdoomzada Basit Bokhari – did not show up, it said.

They have been again invited to confirm their resignations on April 20, the statement said.

The resignation of another lawmaker, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, was received on Tuesday, the statement said, adding the date written on the resignation was April 9, 2018.

Five lawmakers resign in major setback to PML-N

The other four MNAs have still not submitted their resignations despite various reports that they had also announced they would quit the PML-N and joining other political parties, the statement added.  They are Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankvani, Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk, Bhawan Das, and Rana Umer Nazir Khan.

Heated meeting

Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, whose resignation was received on Tuesday, surprisingly chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges the same day.  The date written on his resignation was April 9, 2018, according to the National Assembly Secretariat.

No PTI lawmaker submitted resignation

It drew the ire of finance minister Rana Muhammad Afzal who had an exchange of heated words with the committee chairman, Qasim Noon.

“Drawing any perk or participating in any activity related to the National Assembly after submitting a resignation by an MNA is a violation of rules and regulations of the House,” stated the NA spokesman.

In the meeting, Noon and the Afzal got into a heated argument. The quarrel grew more heated when the finance minister called the committee chairman a turncoat.

What came next was Noon asking the finance minister to leave the meeting room. This was followed by the two bursting into a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse.

MNA Tahir Iqbal Chaudhry quits PML-N

The committee chairman ordered the staff to get Afzal out of the room. However, the finance minister himself walked out from the meeting.

At the end of the meeting, Qasim Noon announced his resignation from the chairmanship of the committee.

 

 

 

 

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