Punjab Assembly passes resolution against CEC

Provincial assembly calls for holding early elections to bring country out of ‘worsening political, economic crises’

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly on Sunday passed a resolution, seeking the resignations of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and Election Commission of Pakistan commissioners for their alleged “biasness”.

PTI chief Imran Khan on Saturday accused the CEC and the ECP officials of biasness when they met with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders and discussed the prohibited funding case against the PTI.

The house session, presided over by newly elected Speaker Sibtain Khan, also saw PTI MPA Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi take oath as the new deputy speaker.

Earlier, the newly elected speaker had announced elections to be held on the deputy speaker’s on July 31 at 1pm at the provincial assembly, sharing the schedule that the nomination papers would be submitted on July 30 till 5pm to the assembly secretariat.

However, no one from the opposition side had submitted the nomination papers and boycotted the contest, following which, Wasiq was declared the deputy speaker unopposed.

Read: PTI set to file ‘judicial reference’ against CEC over ‘unlawful’ meeting

The house on Sunday reverberated with slogans in favour of former prime minister Imran Khan and Deputy Speaker Wasiq from the guest’s as well as the speaker’s galleries. However, the opposition and its allied parties completely boycotted the proceedings.

Further, the newly elected speaker seemed to be facing difficulties in meeting the legal requirements, especially in getting the first bill ‘Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat Services Repeal and Revival Bill, 2022’ passed. The Punjab Assembly secretary was seen rushing towards the speaker several times to correct him.

The house again passed the said bill which was sent to the Punjab governor for approval. After no response was received from the governor, the lawmaker passed it again.

Interestingly, PTI MPA Ali Abbas Shah, who moved the resolution against the CEC and the ECP commissioners, also had difficulties in meeting some legal requirements while presenting it. The assembly secretary helped him in fulfilling the formalities.

Resolution

"This House strongly condemns the conduct through which, following worldwide conspiracy, PTI's elected government was wrapped up. As a result of which inflation, economic crisis and unrest increased and the country reached at the verge of destruction.

“Following the country's state, it is expected from all political parties to render their due role. The only way leading to the country's progress or to pull it out from the prevailing imbroglio is to hold fair and free election.

“This House relying upon the substantial evidences has its grave concern over the present Election Commission of Pakistan.

“This House also demands the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission of Pakistan members to immediately resign so that all political parties could form the non-controversial and acceptable Election Commission of Pakistan which is the need of the hour."

As the resolution was unanimously passed, the PTI lawmakers thumped their desks and chanted slogans in favour of PTI Chairman Imran.

The lawmakers then expressed their sorrow over the misery of the people in flood-hit areas of the country, demanding that they be helped.

The house ensured that all-out efforts would be made to help them.

A lawmaker demanded strict action against those officials who violated all moral values and misbehaved with female lawmakers, including their families, and then implicated them in forged FIRs under fake anti-terrorism charges.

Former law minister Basharat Raja said that directions had been given to the anti-victimization committee in this regard.

He said, “Around 2,300 detention orders were issued against the PTI lawmakers across Punjab and dozens of FIRs were registered against them on May 24 and 25 during the long march.”

He ensured the lawmakers that detention orders would be withdrawn and the FIRs quashed as soon as the Punjab cabinet was formed.

PTI's Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said that some FIRs had been sealed. “It will not work if the committee is given instructions as the police will not cooperate in providing the sealed FIRs,” Chohan said, requesting that directions be given at official level to obtain the details of those FIRs which were sealed after registration.

Later, the session was adjourned till August 15 at 1pm.