Our point of action is clear; we have resigned: Qureshi

Published October 29, 2014
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. – File Photo
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, vice chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. – File Photo
A view of the National Assembly. — File photo
A view of the National Assembly. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday addressed the reporters outside the Parliament and said his party's point of action was clear and that its lawmakers have resigned from the National Assembly.

“PTI tried all constitutional means to highlight the massive rigging during the 2013 General Elections,” he said.

“We have said it many times that we have resigned. We have fulfilled the criteria of Article 64 of the Constitution,” Qureshi said, adding that the PTI lawmakers came to the Speaker's chamber on his call and waited for more than two hours but he did not show up.

The PTI leader said that they have informed the Deputy Speaker to convey the word to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq that PTI lawmakers stood by their resignations. “We obeyed our constitutional responsibility by coming for the verification,” he added.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi lamented the attitude of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government and said, “They have learnt nothing from the past and continue to practice the politics of horse trading.”

He claimed that PTI lawmakers were individually approached by the government and were offered ministries and money as bribe.


Deadlock persists over PTI lawmakers' resignations


Deadlock persists over the issue of resignations of PTI lawmakers from the National Assembly with NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq insisting that each lawmaker show up individually in his chambers for verification as opposed to making a collective appearance.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that despite repeated efforts PTI MNAs decided against appearing individually in his office for verification of their resignations.

He said that he was left with no other option but to apprise the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding the matter.

PTI lawmakers who were outside the speaker’s chamber were scheduled to meet Sadiq at 2pm today. The speaker had sought the lawmakers’ personal appearance in his office for confirmation of their decisions.

Sadiq had set October 29 as the last date for the lawmakers’ appearances so that he could forward their resignations to the Election Commission of Pakistan for further procedure.

As the lawmakers stood outside the speaker’s chamber, PTI leader Naz Baloch lamented Sadiq’s role on the issue, saying he had “wasted everyone’s time and did not come out of his office".

She added that the NA Speaker was violating Article 64 of the Constitution which states that "a member of Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman resign his seat, and thereupon his seat shall become vacant".

Baloch questioned as to "why the resignations of those members who were present in the Speker's chamber not accepted”.

Earlier in August, PTI lawmakers had submitted their resignations from the National Assembly. The resignations had come as the party was engaged in protests and sit-ins against the Nawaz government over alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections.

Take a look: NA speaker again seeks PTI members’ appearance

Separately, Mazari said the PTI would not partake in local body elections.


Bilawal says he would have accepted PTI resignations


Taking a dig at Sadiq, patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took to his official Twitter account to tweet:

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.