In a surprise move, speaker accepts resignations of 35 PTI mNas.

ISLAMABAD -- Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf Tuesday accepted resignations of at least 35 members of the National Assembly belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek: e: Insaf (PTI). These MNAs were consequently de: notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan late Tuesday. The move comes just one day after PTI Chairman Imran Khan dropped a hint to returning to the National Assembly in a bid to force the prime minister to seek vote of confidence besides ensuring non: participation of their dissident members in the expected vote of confidence against prime minister. The Election Commission of Pakistan [ECP] de: notified 35 PTI MNAs shortly after their pending resignations were accepted by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf. These resignations of PTI's MPs, considered as a surprise for PTI, were accepted when PTI Chairman Imran Khan hinted at returning to the National Assembly.

According to the notification issued by the top electoral body with an 'immediate effect', the de: notified MNAs include Murad Saeed, Omar Ayub Khan, Asad Qaiser, Pervez Khattak, Imran Khattak, Sheharyar Afridi, All Amin Khan, Noorul Haq Qadri, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Ali Nawaz Awan, Asad Umar, Sadaqat Ali Khan, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Sheikh Rashid Shafique, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Mansoor Hayat Khan, Fawad Ahmed, Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, Hammad Azhar, Shafqat Mahmood, Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Zartaj Gul, Faheem Khan, Saifur Rehman, Muhammad Alamgir Khan, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Aftab Hussain Saddique, Ataullah, Aftab Jehangir, Muhammad Aslam Khan, Muhammad Najeeb Haroon and Qasim Khan Suri. Two MNAs elected on reserve seats Aliya Hamza Malik and Kanwal Shauzab were also de: notified. The electoral body [ECP], according to the rules, has to announce bye: polls on all these 33 vacant seats. Talking to The Nation, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf said the resignations of other PTI MNAs after the complete verifications could also be accepted in another phase. Most of these 35 MNAs were continuously giving statements to accept their submitted resignations.

'We have accepted the resignations following the rules and regulations,' he remarked. Pakistan Tehreek: e: Insaf [PTI] had announced en: bloc resignations from the lower house of the parliament in the month of April. The opposition party made this decision after PTI Chief Imran Khan was deposed as leader of the house [Prime Minister]. The resignations of eleven MPs were...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT