Reinstated PTI lawmakers reach parliament following LHC's orders

MNAs from different locations have started reaching the capital after instructions from PTI leadership

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreeke-e-Insaf (PTI) has issued orders to its reinstated lawmakers to reach Parliament House, Express News reported on Thursday, a day after the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order de-notifying 43 PTI MNAs.

According to party sources, after receiving the directions, the PTI members have started reaching the capital from their hometowns across the country. The lawmakers have been instructed to reach the chamber of opposition leader in the Senate, Shahzad Wasim.

Parliamentary sources told Express News that National Assembly Speaker and government officials have also called an important meeting following the development.

As per insiders, an important meeting is expected place soon in the Speaker's chamber in which constitutional experts and government representatives will consult.

Read more: LHC seeks ECP’s response on PTI’s elections plea

It will be decided during the meeting whether to stop or let the PTI members come to the parliament.

Earlier on Thursday, NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had said that he had not yet received the LHC's order suspending the denotification of the PTI lawmakers, maintaining that any future course of action would be determined only after the order is received.

Sources said that the Speaker is expected to prepare a strategy after reviewing the constitutional and legal matters after he receives the court's order.

It may be noted that PTI had tendered en masse resignations in protest after Imran Khan was voted out of office as prime minister in April last year.

While then-deputy speaker Qasim Suri had accepted the resignations, incumbent Speaker Ashraf had re-initiated the phase-wise process of accepting the resignations, insisting each member confirm their resignation in person.

After months of delay, the resignations of the last lot of PTI MNAs were accepted in January, only to be challenged by the lawmakers claiming they had withdrawn their request and never confirmed the resignations in person.

On Wednesday, the LHC had suspended the speaker's and the ECP's denotification and had sought replies from the concerned authorities.