ISLAMABAD - It seems that another political crisis is hovering over the PML-N led federal government that is already upset due to the sit-ins in the capital as PTI Core Committee Saturday decided that all MNAs of party will appear before National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for verifying their consent on resignations.
The Core Committee of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf that met under the chair of party chief Imran Khan at his residence in Bani Gala discussed a host of issues and decided to continue the sit-in at Constitution Avenue of the capital during the month of Muharramul Haram.
The committee also decided that it would not participate in the by-elections to be held next month in three constituencies – two in Punjab (Multan and Bhakkar districts) and one in Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq the other day had once again issued notices to 25 PTI lawmakers summoning them on October 29 in his chamber for verification of their resignations. There are total 34 MNAs of PTI in NA, three have refused to tender their resignations; Javed Hashmi has resigned while five resignations were addressed to the PTI chairman instead of the speaker.
The speaker had earlier summoned PTI lawmakers in groups on different dates for verification of their resignations but PTI MNAs, following the decision of party leadership, had refused to appear separately saying they would appeal in one go as they all had submitted resignations on the same date.
PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the speaker wanted to save the government from the pressure of collective resignations by accepting them on different dates. He had said that by doing so the government wanted to get conducted by-elections on different dates.
The notice sent to the PTI MNAs read, “You are requested to meet the speaker in his chamber on Wednesday (October 29) at 2pm for verification of your resignation. In case you do not present yourself before the speaker on the given date and time... the speaker will not be legally in a position to verify your resignation and inform the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accordingly.”
PTI Central Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari after the conclusion of Core Committee meeting said, “PTI has decided to meet the speaker on 29th for verification of resignations.” She told reporters that parliamentary party of PTI would meet the speaker on the said date for verification of their resignations.
“We will go together and meet together with the speaker,” she said. She further said that the meeting had decided not to withdraw the resignations. “PTI has also decided not to participate in the next by-elections,” She informed about the decision of the meeting, adding that they wanted change in the system and did not support the present system established through the rigging of elections.
The meeting also discussed the November 30 public meeting to be held Islamabad as Imran Khan, the other day, while addressing the Gujrat rally had asked his supporters to gather in Islamabad on the said date for a big show. “Chairman Imran Khan asked the members of the committee that maximum presence of the people should be ensured on November 30,” a participant of the meeting said.
The meeting also decided to widen the scope of its protest after Youm-e-Ashur and discussed thoroughly its strategy in this regard. “Two rallies in each week would be held after Muharram as we want to strengthen the movement that been started for a change,” Dr Mazari said after the meeting.
About a question whether PTI had closed its door for a dialogue with the government, Dr Mazari said that PTI being a political party believed in negotiations but did accept the present system that came through rigging. She also condemned the terrorist attack on JUI-F chief Fazalur Rehman but at the same time criticised the JUI-f chief what she said that ‘Moulana’ gave derogatory remarks against the women of PTI. “The government should provide protection to the political leadership,” she said.
The Core Committee also formed a subcommittee headed by PTI Vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qaureshi to consider cases of those politicians who wanted to joint PTI. The meeting also discussed its upcoming rally being held on November 21 in Larkana, the power center of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Moreover, the meeting discussed the issue of holding of bye-polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.