Opposition senators to move against chairman on 9th
Rahbar Committee says joint candidate for the post will be announced on 11th
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
[fbvideo link="https://www.facebook.com/etribune/videos/2414968138827414/"]
The opposition parties’ Rahbar Committee on Friday decided to move a resolution in Senate on July 9 for de-seating its chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and announce a joint candidate for the post on July 11 as part of the efforts to step up pressure on the government.
The committee, which includes representatives of nine opposition parties, in its first meeting chose Akram Khan Durrani of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as its convener for two months.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Durrani said the opposition parties had formally decided to de-seat the Senate chairman.
“We have all agreed that the Senate chairman should be removed and resolution will be submitted on July 9. The opposition will come up with a new name for the post on July 11 in the committee’s next meeting,” he added.
Durrani further announced that the opposition parties would observe the anniversary of the 2018 general elections on July 25 as a ‘black day’ and stage protest rallies on a provincial level.
“We condemn the way democratic people in this country are being distanced from politics and to record its protest, the Rahbar Committee has decided to stage protest rallies on July 25,” he said.
The committee will also write a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan asking it to withdraw its notification wherein it had decided to deploy the army both inside and outside polling stations during elections in the erstwhile federally administered tribal areas.
The opposition parties have asked their members to resign from the parliamentary committee formed to probe into the allegations of rigging in the 2018 general elections.
Durrani expressed his concerns over a “new political order” taking shape in the country.
He also condemned the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah.
“We haven’t even such steps being taken during the times of dictatorship,” he maintained.
Durrani further announced that the opposition parties would support the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate in the upcoming Ghotki by-election.
The committee also demanded the issuance of the production orders for two detained National Assembly members from Waziristan.
Speaking on the occasion, PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the government was depriving voters of their right to representation by not issuing the production orders for detained MNAs.
“Production orders for members of the Parliament should be issued as it is their right to vote for the chairman,” he added.
“It is easy for the government to arrest members, but it denies them their right to vote.”
On rumours about the introduction of a presidential system, Abbasi said the country should be run only through a parliamentary system. “We reject any talk of presidential system or any other system.”
The former premier further said the opposition parties were now implementing the points that were decided in their all parties conference.
“We are fighting for the people and not to be in the government.”
PPP’s Nayyar Bukhari, who is representing his party in the committee, said the prime minister was not authorised to allow or prohibit the issuance of production orders for lawmakers.
PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Usman Kakar, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar, National Party’s Tahir Bizenjo , Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan’s Owais Noorani, Awami National Party’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Qaumi Watan Party’s Hashim Babar also attended the meeting.
[fbvideo link="https://www.facebook.com/etribune/videos/2414968138827414/"]
The opposition parties’ Rahbar Committee on Friday decided to move a resolution in Senate on July 9 for de-seating its chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and announce a joint candidate for the post on July 11 as part of the efforts to step up pressure on the government.
The committee, which includes representatives of nine opposition parties, in its first meeting chose Akram Khan Durrani of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) as its convener for two months.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Durrani said the opposition parties had formally decided to de-seat the Senate chairman.
“We have all agreed that the Senate chairman should be removed and resolution will be submitted on July 9. The opposition will come up with a new name for the post on July 11 in the committee’s next meeting,” he added.
Durrani further announced that the opposition parties would observe the anniversary of the 2018 general elections on July 25 as a ‘black day’ and stage protest rallies on a provincial level.
“We condemn the way democratic people in this country are being distanced from politics and to record its protest, the Rahbar Committee has decided to stage protest rallies on July 25,” he said.
The committee will also write a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan asking it to withdraw its notification wherein it had decided to deploy the army both inside and outside polling stations during elections in the erstwhile federally administered tribal areas.
The opposition parties have asked their members to resign from the parliamentary committee formed to probe into the allegations of rigging in the 2018 general elections.
Durrani expressed his concerns over a “new political order” taking shape in the country.
He also condemned the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah.
“We haven’t even such steps being taken during the times of dictatorship,” he maintained.
Durrani further announced that the opposition parties would support the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate in the upcoming Ghotki by-election.
The committee also demanded the issuance of the production orders for two detained National Assembly members from Waziristan.
Speaking on the occasion, PML-N Senior Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the government was depriving voters of their right to representation by not issuing the production orders for detained MNAs.
“Production orders for members of the Parliament should be issued as it is their right to vote for the chairman,” he added.
“It is easy for the government to arrest members, but it denies them their right to vote.”
On rumours about the introduction of a presidential system, Abbasi said the country should be run only through a parliamentary system. “We reject any talk of presidential system or any other system.”
The former premier further said the opposition parties were now implementing the points that were decided in their all parties conference.
“We are fighting for the people and not to be in the government.”
PPP’s Nayyar Bukhari, who is representing his party in the committee, said the prime minister was not authorised to allow or prohibit the issuance of production orders for lawmakers.
PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Usman Kakar, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar, National Party’s Tahir Bizenjo , Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan’s Owais Noorani, Awami National Party’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Qaumi Watan Party’s Hashim Babar also attended the meeting.