By Zainab Ali
ISLAMABAD: As the Punjab province is already on the brink of another constitutional crisis, Members National Assembly (MNAs) from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will appear before National Assembly Speaker, Raja Parvez Ashraf tomorrow (Thursday, December 22) to verify their intent over the resignations, fearing the country’s political situation will become increasingly turbulent.
PTI Decision
The decision was taken at a party huddle after the speaker did not respond to a letter written by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman and Parliamentary Leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi. During the party meeting, Qureshi lamented how National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf ignored his letter requesting to immediately accept the resignations of PTI MNAs, which had been submitted on April 11 this year.
NA Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf had, however, said that he would follow the constitution while accepting the resignations of the PTI members. At the same time, he also took a plea that several PTI lawmakers had asked him not to accept their resignations as they were coerced into tendering their resignations. He had ruled out the possibility of accepting the resignations of PTI MNAs until he was satisfied as per the law and process are written in the constitution over the resignation of lawmakers.
Punjab Assembly Situation
Separately, Punjab province is also on the point of another constitutional crisis as the Speaker provincial assembly, Sibtain Khan on Tuesday termed “illegal, against the provisions of the Constitution and thus stand disposed of” the Punjab governor’s orders directing Chief Minister Parvez Elahi to seek a vote of confidence.
In his two-page ruling, the speaker maintained that the governor’s orders were not in accordance with Article 54(3) and Article 127 as he held that the house is in session since Oct 23, 2022, and under Article 54(3) and 127, no fresh session can be convened unless and until the current one ends.
With both sides sticking to their respective positions, an acrimonious constitutional battle is undoubtedly going to ensue, adding further fuel to the already volatile political situation.
