Ex-FM questions ‘growing Shehbaz-Modi fondness’

Qureshi says Article 63 verdict could’ve prevented political instability

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that if any member uses their vote contrary to the party's instructions, Article 63 applies to them, adding that a decision on the matter would have prevented political instability.

Speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday, the former foreign minister, accompanied by Senator Faisal Javed, questioned the growing fondness between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that “Kashmiris are being betrayed”.

He highlighted the ongoing atrocities in occupied Kashmir, including the killing of innocents.

He also wondered who would stop two lawmakers who were making speeches “contrary to the facts”.

He also confidently stated that Imran Khan would be sworn-in as the prime minister in a few weeks.

Qureshi said that if a decision had been taken on Article 63-A earlier, political complexities would not have been observed. He accused some lawmakers of selling their conscience while they sold their votes.

“The decision and orders of this case are very important in my view; it has damaged the image of democracy and parliament,” he said. “This should not happen again; contrary to the party's instruction, if a member uses his vote, if someone violates it, then Article 63 applies to him.”

The former minister wondered why the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was silent on the matter. “Yes, this decision is very important if we want to avoid political instability,” he added.

Qureshi paid tribute to the people of Hangu, who voted for PTI’s candidate in NA-133. He linked the success in the party’s first election since its ouster from power to the presence of people’s mandate with Imran.

Commenting about the chaos in Punjab Assembly, he said that the matter is still unresolved and whatever happened in the house was in violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. “The government is being imposed on the people, if the relevant article is observed today, then all dissenting members will be disqualified and Hamza Shehbaz will lose his majority,” he said.

The senior party leader made it clear that there was only one solution out of the current political crisis and that was new elections. “Today, the voice of the whole nation is being raised,” he said.

Senator Javed said that this is a decisive hour to end horse-trading. He explained that the former government introduced electronic voting machines (EMVs) and brought reforms, and now they needed to do away with horse-trading by all means.

He challenged the dissenting party members to go to their constituencies now, claiming that even their family members would not vote for them.

He said that PTI will pass a resolution to save Pakistan at Minaar-e-Pakistan. “The only voice of Pakistanis all over the world is to reject the imported government,” he said. “Elections are going to be held, Imran Khan will take oath as prime minister in a few weeks.”