Resignations matter not within ECP jurisdiction, say election authorities
Commenting on media reports that National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has decided to send the matter of resignations of PTI MNA’s to the ECP, officials in the commission said accepting or rejecting resignations of any member is the sole domain of the speaker of that respective assembly.
Sadiq on Wednesday had called PTI members once again to verify if they were resigning on their free will.
Around 25 members, led by their party’s vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, reached the National Assembly secretariat in a group. However, they refused to appear individually before the speaker.
PTI members, except a few, had submitted their resignations with the speaker’s office in August when the party launched its sit-in in the federal capital. The speaker is yet to accept or reject the resignations submitted collectively through their vice chairman.
According to ECP officials, even if the speaker forwards the matter to the commission it is likely to write back saying that the National Assembly should deal with the matter itself.
“Our role starts once we get a copy of notification from the speaker’s office that a particular seat has fallen vacant. We announce and organise polls on the vacant seat,” the officials said.
Even in case the speaker rejects someone’s resignation, it is not obliged to inform the ECP, they added.
NA speaker to consult ECP on PTI resignations
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Wednesday he has no choice but to bring the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) up to speed on the issue regarding the resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking about PTI members individually presenting themselves for verification of their resignations, the NA speaker quoted a letter he received from Shah Mehmood Qureshi which said, "It will be up to the National Assembly speaker whether to listen to the MNAs one by one, or collectively."
"After reading this, I was hopeful that this issue would be resolved," said the NA speaker, adding that PTI MNAs were to arrive at 11am, but arrived at 2pm.
"The deputy speaker repeatedly went to the group of MNAs and told them to individually come to the speaker's chamber for verification of resignations," he said.
"Instead, they told the deputy speaker that the speaker should present himself in the speakers lounge and verify the resignations there."
Earlier, PTI lawmakers had arrived at the National Assembly to verify their resignations but had refused to resign individually,Express News reported.
Under the leadership of PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the lawmakers collectively entered the National Assembly chanting “Go Nawaz Go” slogans and stationed outside National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s chamber.
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Arrived 3 hours late. Lack of respect of time continues to be the hallmark of the champions on the Changed Pakistan. By merely joining PTI, how can the character of these old crooks change overnight.
On the one hand PTI is resigning from the assemblies on the other hand PTI is dying to be in the same assemblies. What a hypocrisy.
This is another fiasco from PTI – if they are really serious about resignations then they should follow the way Javed Hashami did. Still they are collecting allowances and other financial benefits from National Assembly and claiming they resigned. With this type of politics they are exposing themselves badly.
NA speaker is violating the clear written law.He is custodian of the House and not a political party This is how democracy in the country fails