Ayub Afridi's resignation clears path for Tarin to become senator

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ayub Afridi resigned on Tuesday from the upper house of parliament reportedly in a bid to pave way for Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin to become a member of parliament.

In order for him to head the cabinet committees, Tarin has to be a member of parliament as per a high court ruling.

The resignation letter of the PTI leader was approved by Senate chief Sadiq Sanjrani and a notification to this effect was issued by the Senate Secretariat as well.

Afridi, in a video message, said he was asked to resign by the prime minister. "He [PM Imran] told me to wait due to the joint session and after that he asked me to quit. This [seat] was entrusted to me by the party and the prime minister and I happily returned it," Afridi added.

The resigned PTI leader has been made PM's special assistant on overseas Pakistanis in return for giving up his Senate seat. President Arif Alvi has approved his appointment on the recommendation of PM Imran.

It may be noted that Afridi had sent in his resignation letter to Sanjrani in October, but it was accepted after the joint session of parliament wherein the government bulldozed over 20 laws despite the opposition's protests.

Read Tarin vows to protect IMF, KPP programmes

The PTI government was also eyeing the Senate seat of PML-N's Ishaq Dar who has not taken oath as a senator due to his self-imposed exile in London.

It is speculated that Dar might lose his membership in the wake of an ordinance that bounds parliament members to take oath within 40 days of its promulgation.

The Election Ordinance (Third Amendment) 2021, binding elected members to take oath within 60 days of the commencement of the first sitting of the maiden session of legislature, was signed by President Arif Alvi last month.

The amendment was made to Section 72 of the Election Act 2017.

According to a statement issued under the amendment, the members would have to take oath within 40 days of the promulgation of the ordinance.

In case of failure to take oath within the mandatory period, seats of elected members to the national and provincial assemblies, the Senate and local bodies would become vacant.

After the ordinance comes into force, the parliamentary membership of Senator Ishaq Dar is likely to end.