PTI in two minds over Sindh PA resignations

The last few weeks have been no less than a rollercoaster ride for anyone following up with Pakistani politics that has gone through many twists and turns amid a sudden transfer of power.

The latest twist in this scenario comes on the end of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, who after tendering their resignations in the national assembly appear to be on tenterhooks about their position in the provincial assembly. Although the PTI-loyalists had earlier announced to replicate their party’s national assembly approach in the Sindh Assembly as well, but it seems there is still some mulling due.

The Sindh Assembly session breakdown is such that it has a total of 168 members. Out of them 99 belong to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), 22 to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), 14 to Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Three to Tehreek e Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), one to Muttahida Majlis e Amal (MMA) and 30 to Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), including MPAs Kareem Gabol and Shaharyar Shar who have already denounced the party.

Speaking on the matter, Sindh Assembly GM Farooq Buirro said that they have not received any resignations from PTI members so far. “If any MPA intends to resign from the assembly membership then he or she has to furnish a handwritten letter of resignation to the speaker. The speaker after receiving the letter of resignation can conduct an inquiry to ascertain whether the MPA’s decision is voluntary and genuine. The speaker has to later inform the assembly about the resignation and refer the matter for gazette notification and election commission,” he added while elaborating on the resignation process.

According to PTI’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Bilal Ghaffar, Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Sindh MPAs have already served their resignations to party supremo and former Prime Minister Imran Khan, with whom the verdict now rests. “Soon after our MNAs resigned from the National Assembly on April 11, we handed over our resignations to Opposition Leader Haleem Adil Shaikh who submitted the resignation to Imran Khan for final decision on it,” told Ghaffar.

When asked if they would attend the upcoming session of the provincial assembly he was of the opinion that “it is premature to comment on it,” and that they would rather wait for the party leadership’s word on the matter.

On the other hand, a senior leader in PTI, while requesting anonymity, shared that the decision to resign from provincial assemblies has been deferred for now. “We have a government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province. It is not yet clear whether all PTI MPAs in K-P, Punjab will also tender their resignations. If [they] won’t then we will also postpone the decision,” he said alleging that “the imported government with the help of forieng powers wants to destabilise Pakistani economy and meddle with our nuclear capabilities.”

It is worth mentioning here that after the no-confidence motion was passed against Prime Minister Imran Khan by a joint-opposition, PTI had initially decided to field Shah Mehmood Qureshi as prime minister candidate against Shehbaz Sharif. However, at the time of election on April 11, PTI boycotted the election and walked out of the session announcing en masse resignations from the national assembly.

In this regard PPP’s Sindh Chapter President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro while speaking to media said that the Sindh government would consider different options including by-elections if PTI decides to resign from assemblies. “I believe, PTI will not make such a decision to vacate Sindh Assembly and other provincial assemblies, if so, we are ready for holding the by-election on the 28 PTI seats,” he said adding that former PM Imran Khan’s questionable performance and the incompetence of his entire team has brought international shame to Pakistan.

It’s worth nothing that here that Sindh governor Imran Ismail has already resigned. However, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani who is currently under house arrest on corruption charges has been given the acting charge. “It’s quite a dilemma that a man with serious corruption charge who is also currently serving time in house arrest, has been given the charge of governor,” said Bilal Ghaffar while commenting on the political situation. “Imran Khan was the hope and dream for majority of Pakistanis. He will come to power again with a two-third majority in next general elections,” he added with an air of conviction in his words.

Addressing the controversy PPP Sindh Chapter President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said that as speaker of the Sindh Assembly Durrani is under no bar from taking acting charge of the governor. “The speaker is not convicted nor has any case been proved against him,” Khuhro told The Express Tribune in a bid to dispel the brimming controversy around Durrani’s latest position in the office.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2022.