'Powerful circles' may ‘softly’ influence NA resignations

Experts say PTI threat of dissolution of PAs, formal mass exit from lower house may lead to general polls

ISLAMABAD:

Political experts on Sunday said the 'powerful circles' might softly influence the process of verification of the resignations of the PTI MNAs because the threat of dissolution of two provincial assemblies coupled with a formal mass exit from the National Assembly could create an atmosphere of general elections amid the deepening economic crisis that would not only have a direct impact on them but create challenges for the ruling alliance as well.

The experts believed that the acceptance of the resignations would create problems for the PML-N-led ruling alliance as there were less chances of the PTI MNAs disobeying the party’s directions and the situation might not permit conducting by-elections on such a large scale.

Ever since the PTI leadership announced that it would go back to the NA for the verification of the resignations to force the federal government into holding early general elections, the experts felt that the MNAs would not want to lose the party's current wave of popularity by going against its decision.

However, they added that NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf would make the final decision.

Political expert Zaigham Khan noted that the 'powerful circles' were keenly observing the situation and it was possible that it might softly use its pressure in the current situation as the financial crisis would affect them as well as the whole affairs of the State.

The expert added that the resignations would complicate the situation but whatever the hurdles might be, the PML-N-led government would not agree to the time being demanded by PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan.

 “Imran Khan is giving them [the current rulers] two choices: either you commit suicide or I’ll kill you,” Zaigham observed.

“I think they won’t chose the option of suicide; they would ask Imran to go ahead and kill them,” he added.

For these reasons, he said, the government would try its best to stop this move.

“Let’s see where things go from here because there is still some time left to conclude the process [verification of the resignations],” he noted.

To the question if all PTI lawmakers would appear before the NA Speaker, Zaigham believed that every MNA of the party would tender their resignation again.

He added that the reason for that was that Imran and the PTI were popular right now and the legislatures were always in need of party votes.

The expert noted the PTI MNAs had their own vote banks, but they still needed the party’s vote and support.

“I think it’s too late in the day that they [PTI lawmaker] might make a different move,” Zaigham said, adding that the previous such move by the party’s MNAs and MPAs had backfired.

“They will stay with the PTI because it is popular at the moment,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll ditch the party. That stage has already passed and those who had to leave have already left,” he added.

“Right now, the PTI MNAs would surely go for the verification of their resignations if Imran asks them to do so,” the expert believed.

The pressure will be on the PML-N because the ongoing political crisis is weighing quite heavily on the economic crisis.

The current situation would not only further deepen the economic crisis but questions will be raised on the support that was expected to come from abroad.

Zaigham noted that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) pressure would further increase as the global lender was asking Pakistan to make some tough decisions, including the imposition of Rs800 billion additional taxes and opening up the foreign currency to end three currency rates.

He added that the PML-N and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were already under pressure and running away from elections, saying countering further would make matters difficult for them and economic conditions would complicate the situation.

Speaking on the matter of accepting resignations of the PTI MNAs, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said the NA rules gave complete powers to the speaker.

He added that the speaker had to satisfy himself that the resignations were genuine and tendered voluntarily without any pressure.

The Pildat president observed that while the presence of the PTI MNAs in the House and announcing their resignation in front of the speaker did take care of the condition that the resignations were genuine.

However, he added that the speaker might need more time and evidence that the MNAs were not resigning under duress.

“That is where the matter might not be settled immediately,” he noted.

Mehboob said the speaker could decide to accept the resignations -- all or at least some of them -- if he was satisfied with their genuineness and voluntary nature.

“This move may create a few more challenges for the PMLN-led federal government including holding a large number of by-elections which, together with the threatened dissolution of provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, might create an atmosphere of general elections leading to political uncertainty and instability,” the Pildat chief added.

He further noted that this might run counter to the efforts to somewhat stabilise the critical economic conditions in the country.

After a delay of eight months, the PTI has at last decided to really quit the NA as party vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi wrote a letter to its speaker on Thursday to set a time in the coming week for the formal verification of the resignations of the party members, who had left the House in April this year.

This appears to be the first serious move by the PTI to leave the lower house of parliament and force the PML-N-led ruling alliance to hold early elections.

The party’s lawmakers had announced their resignations in April but had never appeared before the NA speaker for verifying them when directed to do so before the last budget session.