PTI sends references to ECP against 20 dissidents

Opposition accuses Imran of forcing MPs to quit NA

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday sent references against 20 of its dissident members to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), seeking their disqualification for violating party discipline and defecting.

Sources in the National Assembly Secretariat confirmed that references were received from the PTI leadership against the members which had to be submitted to the ECP within two days.

The disqualification reference against the members has been moved under the relevant constitutional provision – which stipulates de-seating of a party member in the event of defection – after they came out in public against the former Imran Khan-led government, joining voices with the then-opposition parties.

The electoral watchdog is expected to adjudicate upon the matter within a period of thirty days, sources added.

The deviant members named in the reference include Raja Riaz Ahmed, Noor Alam Khan, Wajiha Qamar, Malik Nawab Sher Wasir, Ramesh Kumar, Afzal Dhandla, Ahmed Hussain Dehar and Rana Qasim Noon.

Earlier this month, before being ousted, Imran Khan had also submitted a reference against the estranged members with the former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser.

Read PTI dissidents ready to contest polls on PML-N ticket

The reference had invoked Article 63 (A) which states that if a member of a political party abstains or votes contrary to the direction of the parliamentary party to which they belong, they may be de-seated.

‘Imran forcefully taking resignations from MNAs’

Meanwhile, the PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq accused Imran Khan of coercing his party’s lawmakers into tendering resignations.

On Monday, all PTI lawmakers, except party dissidents, had resigned from the National Assembly en masse before the scheduled voting began for electing a new prime minister.

Sources privy to the development had told The Express Tribune that the party took the decision amid differences among its own ranks over quitting the National Assembly en masse.

Speaking at a press conference alongside PPP and JUI-F leaders, Ayaz Sadiq speaker said Imran Khan was forcefully taking resignations from lawmakers.

"In line with the law, every member should appear in person and submit their resignation to the speaker [...] there are some conditions and questions that are noted before the acceptance of the resignation," he said.

The PML-N leader claimed the PTI members were being asked to sign cyclostyle documents, which included their names and constituency.

"It is clearly stated in the rules that a lawmakers resignation should be handwritten."

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also echoed the PML-N leader and said the deputy speaker was pressurising the National Assembly secretariat on the issue of the resignations.

"The deputy speaker is violating the laws [...] Suri had said that he identified the members based on their signatures, but according to the rules, every member should be present in person for submitting their resignations," Rehman said.

“Several PTI lawmakers are contacting the opposition parties to express their reservations over Imran Khan's policy of taking resignations forcefully.”

She urged the ECP to take notice of the party's action.

PTI presses for early elections

Doubling down on its stance, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday said holding general elections were crucial to prevent crisis from deepening further.

Addressing a press conference alongside former energy minister Hammad Azhar, Fawad Chaudhry said WikiLeaks had exposed Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, and Fazlur Rehman -  the heads of the constituent parties of the coalition government - saying the leaders had offered themselves to become the prime minister.

Read Immediate elections only way forward, says Imran

“We do not want to move towards confrontation but the country must move towards elections, adding no one is ready to become a minister in this government."

Speaking about the ‘threatening letter’, the former information minister called for constitution of a commission to initiate probe into the alleged conspiracy to topple Imran Khan-led government.

Fawad said every institution now has the document, adding it was up to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) to proceed with the case whether its day or night.

“The Supreme Court should probe into events – who held meetings in London… with whom – a leader who stayed at a farmhouse in the United States – held meetings with.”

He went on to say that the current government had been "imported", adding that "slaves" were following "masters" — a reference to "foreign powers" which PTI claims has toppled its government.

He thanked the public for coming out in great numbers to support Imran Khan, adding that protest will be held every Saturday after Isha prayer.

'A dummy government'

Berating the newly formed coalition government, Fawad termed it a "dummy government, adding it was everyone’s obligation to take the country towards elections.

Hammad said that the government would comes seams apart in a few days, adding the measures announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were nothing but cosmetic moves.

He pointed out that there were sane elements in Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) who want to have elections soon.

“Maryam Nawaz said Imran Khan was unpopular among the masses and people are happy with his ouster. If people are happy, go in the elections immediately,” the former minister said.

He also demanded immediate approval of PTI lawmakers’ resignations from the national assembly (NA).