De-seating of PTI MNAs: MQM, JUI-F withdraw anti-Imran motions

NA passes unanimous resolution seeking supremacy of parliament, Constitution and country’s Islamic identity

ISLAMABAD:

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Thursday unconditionally withdrew their motions seeking to de-seat lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution pledging to uphold supremacy of the Constitution, sovereignty of parliament and the Islamic identity of the country.

The joint resolution, moved by the JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman, said it was compulsory for all the parliamentary parties to respect the stature of parliament.

“This house is the symbol of protection of the federation, defence of the country, security and unity. It is the duty of every Pakistani to defend the sanctity of the house,” it read.

The resolution also paid tribute to those political parties, lawmakers, national media and the people of Pakistan who played their due role for the sanctity of the Constitution, democracy and parliament in the hour of trial.

The resolution was the consequence of a meeting of all parliamentary parties in the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq before the resumption of NA session. All leaders agreed to consider the government’s suggestion to withdraw the motion to de-seat PTI's 28 parliamentarians, who boycotted the NA proceedings for the second consecutive day.

Later, during the course of the NA proceedings, the MQM MNA Salman Khan Baloch and the JUI-F MNA Naeema Kishwar Khan moved the withdrawal motions separately against the PTI MNAs.



Earlier, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq informed the parliamentarians that he had personally called the MQM chief to resolve the issue. He said he informed Altaf Hussain that his recent statements hurt the sentiments of the nation.

“I told him [Altaf Hussain] that the Pakistan Army and Rangers have rendered countless sacrifices for the nation to which he agreed,” the speaker said.

He said he asked the MQM chief to say it publicly; however, Altaf asked him to convey his feelings to the parliamentarians and the nation. “Despite criticism, I as custodian of this house took this initiative to resolve this issue,” Sadiq said.

Speaking at the floor of the house on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he wanted to see the PTI in parliament. He had also requested the MQM and the JUI-F to withdraw their motions against the PTI and Sadiq to play his due role so that the matter could not become a record of parliament.

“We are ready to sacrifice anything for strengthening democracy in the country,” Fazlur Rahman said after presenting the resolution. However, he said his party’s reservations remained on PTI’s unconstitutional step. “When the majority decides something then the minority should respect it,” he added.

The MQM’s Farooq Sattar also endorsed the JUI-F chief. “Altaf Hussain has taken the resolution back on the request of the NA speaker, the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and leaders of other political parties,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2015.