Resignations: ‘PTI’s return to assemblies unlawful’

LAHORE: Lahore High Court issued notices to the federal and the Punjab governments on Wednesday on a petition challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s return to the parliament terming it unconstitutional. Arslan Iftikhar, son of former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, filed the petition saying that the PTI parliamentarians had tendered resignations to the speakers of the national and provincial assemblies. He said that the speakers, however, had not accepted resignations. “Constitutionally, the PTI parliamentarians ceased to remain members of the assemblies once they tendered resignations,” he said. The petitioner said that submission of resignation was constitutionally considered acceptance and no formal acceptance of resignations was required. He asked the court to direct the Election Commission of Pakistan to de-notify PTI’s parliamentarians who had tendered their resignations. The court adjourned hearing till April 22 and sought replies from the governments.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2015.