Info minister, others hand in resignations

In an attempt to mount pressure on the federal government, more legislators from the Pakistan Peoples Party submitted their resignations to PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday.

A day before Pakistan Democratic Movement is set to hold its power show in Lahore, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah tendered his resignation, addressed to the Sindh Assembly speaker, to Bilawal. Shah also holds the portfolios of the provincial local government, housing and town planning, forest and religious affairs departments.

The minister had earlier stated that the party was ready to sacrifice its government in Sindh to send the 'incompetent' PTI government packing and save the country from further devastation.

PPP leader Sharjeel Inam Memon also resigned from his seat as a member of the provincial assembly. The former minister was elected from the PS-63 constituency in Hyderabad.

His resignation letter, also addressed to the assembly speaker, said that he had decided to take the step as a result of the country's current political situation and the party leadership's instructions.

Other MPAs submitting their resignations on the day included Fayaz Ali Butt, Muhammad Sajid Jokhio, Imdad Pitafi and Rana Hamir Singh. PPP lawmakers who tendered their resignations earlier include MNAs Syed Agha Rafiullah and Abdul Qadir Patel, Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh and MPAs Surendar Valasai, Nida Khuhro and Sadia Javed.

On Tuesday, the 11-party opposition alliance announced that parliamentarians from its constituent parties would hand in their resignations to the respective party chiefs by the end of the month - a last-ditch attempt to send the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government packing.

Earlier, sources in the PPP told The Express Tribune that most PPP lawmakers in the NA, provincial assemblies and Senate would tender their resignations before the upcoming PDM jalsa in Lahore on Sunday, as an expression of their commitment to the party line.

Meanwhile, after the PDM's announcement, resignations from several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmakers in Punjab had begun pouring in as well, while one of its MNAs from Sindh, Kheal Das Kohistani, followed suit too.

PTI welcomes decision

At a press conference on the day, PTI Karachi president Khurrum Sher Zaman said his party welcomed the PPP's decision to resign from the provincial assembly in Sindh, ruled by the latter party.

"After these resignations, the Election Commission of Pakistan should immediately hold by-elections on these seats," he stated, flanked by other party leaders and legislators. "We will bring about reforms and changes in Sindh's institutions by forming a government here."

Accusing the PPP of destroying the province's health system, he said the PTI would give the people health cards, eliminate ghost employees, provide ambulances and ensure free medicines in hospitals. He also said a prospective PTI provincial government would reform the education, local government and home departments.

Zaman further accused the opposition of spreading Covid-19 in the country through the PDM rallies. "Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision is to eliminate coronavirus, while the opposition's vision is to kill people through it."

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2020.