Violating discipline: PTI expels dissenter, seeks his disqualification from K-P Assembly

Javed Nasim issued notice after seconding Senate hopefuls.

PESHAWAR:

Javed Nasim, the dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker in the K-P Assembly, has been expelled from the party and a request has been sent to the speaker to strip him of his seat.

According to sources within the Assembly Secretariat, PTI sent a request to the office for Nasim’s disqualification on Tuesday and it will be forwarded to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday (today).

“The ECP will suspend Nasim’s assembly membership after it receives a nod from the speaker,” the insider said. “He (Nasim) will not be able to vote in the Senate polls.”

Nasim had been issued a show-cause notice on Sunday to explain why he seconded the nomination papers of independent candidates Waqar Ahmed Khan and Fauzia Fakhruz Zaman. The notice signed by PTI chief Imran Khan had sought a reply from Nasim within 24 hours as to why he should not be expelled for violating party discipline.

Moreover, to express their disapproval of the MPA’s decision, scores of PTI workers had gathered outside his house in the city on Monday night and chanted slogans against him. A scuffle consequently broke out between the workers and Nasim’s supporters, followed by aerial firing. Faqirabad police have also registered a case against Nasim’s guards.

Support from lawmakers

On Tuesday, the dissident MPA told journalists his party membership was terminated four months ago. He added there was no law to disqualify him and no one could do so.

Meanwhile, MNA Jamshed Dasti visited Nasim’s house to sympathise with him. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dasti said there was no difference between PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan. “He (Nasim) is being punished for raising his voice against Pervez Khattak’s corruption.”

Dasti urged the chief justice of Pakistan and chief justice of Peshawar High Court to take notice of the “attack on Nasim’s residence.” He claimed the police supported the people who attacked the MPA’s house and he would raise the issue in Parliament.

Interestingly, Nasim became PTI’s poster boy after he was elected from a Peshawar constituency and announced he would not draw the MPA’s salary and avail perks and privileges. However, he soon fell out of favour with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and become part of a likeminded group within the party ranks.

He staged a sit-in against chief minister in October last year and his party membership was suspended the same month for violating party rules and failing to respond to a show-cause notice. PTI spokesperson Shireen Mazari could not be reached for comments.

Upper House polls

The joint opposition in the provincial assembly is facing a deadlock over the distribution of Senate seats among its five constituent parties and seems to have split into two camps with JUI-F, ANP and PPP on one side, and PML-N and QWP on the other.

According to insiders, QWP and PML-N leaders did not turn up for a meeting at the MPA Hostel on Monday evening to discuss the distribution. However, an opposition leader said there was a possibility that a moot would be held late Tuesday and a breakthrough could occur.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2015.