Ministers Ayaz Sadiq, Salman Rafique step down ahead of Punjab by-polls

Federal minister Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and provincial minister Khawaja Salman Rafique of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have resigned from their ministries to participate in electioneering for the upcoming by-elections, scheduled for July 17, in their respective constituencies in Punjab.

PML-N leader Atta Tarar said in a statement that both the leaders stepped down from their posts to run election campaigns for the ruling party candidates in the upcoming by-elections on 20 Punjab Assembly seats.

Public office holders are not allowed to run or participate in election campaign as per Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) code of conduct.

Sadiq said in his resignation addressed to the prime minister that due to some personal reasons he was unable to serve as the federal minister.

The July 17 by-polls will be held in PP-7, PP-83, PP-90, PP-97, PP-125, PP-127, PP-140, PP-158, PP-167, PP-168, PP-170, PP-202, PP-217, PP-224, PP-228, PP-237, PP-272, PP-273, PP-282 Layyah and PP-288 constituencies.

On May 20, the ECP had de-seated 25 MPAs of the PTI for defying party directives and voting for Hamza Shehbaz for the post of the Punjab chief minister.

The reference against the dissident lawmakers sent by Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi was accepted by the election watchdog for violating Article 63-A which pertains to defection.

The much-awaited verdict had gained political weightage in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict on a presidential reference, seeking its interpretation of Article 63-A, related to the disqualification of lawmakers over defection.