PESHAWAR: The Khy­ber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday passed a resolution expressing “serious reservations” about the Election Commission of Pakistan and demanded the immediate resignation of the chief election commissioner and ECP members.

The resolution, which was moved by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, caused a commotion in the house as the opposition parties strongly protested the move, calling it against parliamentary traditions.

“On the basis of undeniable evidence, this house expresses serious reservations against the Election Commission and demands that the sitting Chief Election Commissioner and all its members should resign forthwith so all political parties constitute non-controversial and acceptable commission, which is also a need of the hour,” said the resolution.

Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra requested Idrees Khan Khattak, who chaired the proceedings, to give him the floor to move an “important resolution”. The chair relaxed the rules and asked the mover to present the resolution. Mr Jhagra hurriedly read the resolution, which was passed with majority.

ANP assails govt, alleges TNSM ‘restored by PTI’

The opposition members were not allowed to speak on the merits or demerits of the resolution. This caused rumpus in the assembly.

The resolution also condemned ouster of the PTI government in the centre “as part of an international conspiracy” and said that the move caused political uncertainty and adversely affected the economy. It sought snap elections as a way out of the present crises.

After passing the resolution, the chair gave the floor to Awami National Party (ANP) parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak. He said that passing the resolution in such a hurry was against the parliamentary norms and traditions.

“If PTI wants fresh elections in the country then it should dissolve KP and Punjab assemblies first where they have governments,” he said. He lamented that no one from treasury benches was talking about the economic crisis and a ban on trade with Afghanistan. He alleged that the PTI ministers were paying “ransom to Taliban” and termed PTI chief Imran Khan Taliban Khan. He claimed that the Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muham­madi (TNSM) had been “restored by the PTI government”.

Maulana Lutfur Rehman of the JUI-F said that passing the resolution in haste was against the democratic norms.

PML-N parliamentary leader Sardar Muhammad Yousaf also condemned the resolution. He said that only three lawmakers of the PTI had signed this resolution.

One bill was tabled in the assembly. The Commerce and Trade Statistic Bill, 2022, proposes collection of statistics relating to commercial and trade activities for promotion of trade in the province.

Minister for Finance Taimur Salim Jhagra tabled the bill. He said that the collection and use of statistics of trade and commerce were of immense importance in strategising commercial activities.

He said that the statistics on commercial and trade activities are very helpful and could be used in planning effective trade, commerce and investment policies for achieving boost in economic activities.

The house also passed the KP Medical Officers of Health Department (Regulari­sation of Services) Bill, 2022, the KP Lissa­ail-e-Wal Mahroom Foundation (Amend­ment) Bill, 2022 and tabled the KP Finance (Amendment) Bill 2022 in the House.

The house accepted an adjournment motion of Naeema Kishwar of JUI-F for holding a debate on the uncertainty and casualties due to heavy downpour in prevailing monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2022