PML-N, PPP voice support for PTI over de-seating issue in Parliament

As Ishaq Dar elaborated his party’s stance, all parliamentary leaders backed the move except JUI-F and MQM

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and main Opposition party Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) opposed on Monday a move to de-seat Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members from the National Assembly.

As soon as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar elaborated his party’s stance, all parliamentary leaders backed him except the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). PPP’s Ejaz Jakharani also echoed the finance minister's sentiments, saying his party was in favour of PTI's presence in the lower house.

The finance minister also requested the MQM to withdraw its resolution, while claiming that the JUI-F would withdraw its resolution.

Addressing the speaker, Dar said that Tuesday (August 4) was set as the deadline by the Speaker for the house to make a decision on the de-seating issue; however, he came up with a reply today as he will be traveling to attend an important IMF meeting.

The development was met with celebration from PTI lawmakers.

Earlier, voicing his opinion, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said he was not convening the Kashmir committee’s meeting as some of its members are from the PTI and, according to him, do not have legitimacy or any moral to sit in the committee meeting.

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Dar further said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a recently meeting, attended by almost all parliamentary parties’ leaders, said he wished to see PTI in Parliament, playing its role in national issues ranging from the China Pakistan Economic Corridor to the National Action Plan. He requested the MQM to withdraw resolution against the PTI.

Further, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) MNA Sher Akbar said his party neither supported the PTI's sit-ins nor any resolution that could hamper the national consensus.

"Our Ameer Sirajul Haq played a positive role throughout," he said. Lawmaker G G Jamal, representing Fata, said that the country was facing an economic and energy-related crises and all such challenges needed to be combated together.

Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad complained to the Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq that “had he tendered his resignation, it would have been accepted by the Speaker’s office in just two minutes.”

In a lighter vein, Sadiq initially joked, "Just in two seconds” and later assured that he would not discriminate against Rasheed or any member on the floor of the house.

Read: Post-inquiry: Govt seeks PTI apology over rigging charges

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad, in reply to a call of attention notice moved by PTI lawmaker Dr Shireen Mazari and others, said that the government would continue its moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiris for their just right to self-determination.

He said the international human rights organisations had also expressed concerns and highlighted Indian brutalities on international forum.

Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said Pakistan wanted the resolution of the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of the Kashmiris in line with the United Nations' resolutions.