ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday requested MQM and JUI-F to withdraw their motions seeking de-seating of PTI MNAs and both the parties, though have given tacit assent to the premier’s point, sought time for having final word on it after consultation with other party leaders.
The request was extended at a meeting of the Parliamentary parties’ heads held here at the Prime Minister’s parliament chamber where the motions tabled by the two parties came up for discussion. Most of the Parliamentary parties’ leaders supported the PM’s idea of moving forward in democratic journey without locking horns to settle political scores with PTI.
At the same time the prime minister agreed to the point of both MQM and JUI-F that PTI leadership should accept the supremacy of the parliament and show their unequivocal commitment to the parliamentary democracy, and that instead of streets, it (parliament) is the right forum to discuss and resolve issues facing the nation.
MQM and JUI-F leadership gave their tacit approval to the prime minister’s point of view on the issue. But they were of the view that PTI leadership should at least apologise for all what they had been uttering against the apex parliamentary forum during their sit-in in front of the parliament.
They further demanded that PTI take back all their foul comments about the parliament in the house and also give commitment of their allegiance to the parliament and constitution to pave way for withdrawal of their(MQM and JUI-F) motions seeking de-seating of 28 PTI MNAs who stayed absent from the house proceedings for over 40 days without intimation.
Parliamentary sources informed The Nation that both MQM and JUI-F had agreed in principle to withdraw their motions and the time they sought from the Premier would be just a formality.
A four-member committee comprising Ishaq Dar, Kh Saad Rafique, Pervaiz Rasheed and Irfan Siddiqui was constituted by the premier to keep in touch with the leadership of both JUI-F and MQM and persuade them to agree to the government’s point of view to move forward by burying all the hatchets with PTI for the collective good of the democratic order in the country.
Sources aware of the deliberations of the meeting said almost all the participants agreed to the point that at this juncture such a move to de-seat PTI MNAs could create another crisis-like situation and as all the political stakeholders wanted to see the country’s march on road to economic prosperity, so they should leave behind all the bitterness.
Sources further said that as ruling PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party, main opposition party in the parliament, were on same page on the issue of PTI MPs, so in case both JUI-F and MQM would press to go ahead with their motions in the National Assembly even then it would be defeated overwhelmingly. So, the chances of JUI-F and MQM adopting defiant course are minimal and they would settle down with a little grilling of PTI MPs in the house.
Sources informed that at one point during the discussion MQM participants wanted to take up the issue of ban on direct telecast of MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain’s speech on TV channels, but PML-Z chief Ejazul Haq intervened in the matter saying that if MQM wanted to discuss this issue they should better seek separate time from PM and interior minister, as the issue was not right on agenda and they were there to discuss the motions tabled against the PTI MPs.
During the discussion some parliamentary parties’ heads came up with the proposal to get a resolution adopted unanimously from both the houses of the parliament in support of its supremacy.
The meeting was attended from government side by federal ministers Ishaq Dar (Finance), Khawaja Asif (Water and Power), Pervez Rashid (Information and Broadcasting), Khawaja Saad Rafique (Railways); Minister of State for IT, Ms Anusha Rehman; SAPM on National Affairs, Mr Irfan Siddiqui; SAPM on Political Affairs, Dr Asif Kirmani.
Parliamentary heads and representatives of political parties included Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah (PPP); Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F); Sirajul Haq (JI); Abdul Rashid Godil, Khalid Maqbool and Kanwar Navid Jamil (MQM); Mushahid Hussain (PML-Q); Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour (ANP); Ijazul Haq (PML-Z); Dr Gazi Gulab Jamal (Fata); Mehmood Khan Achackzai (PkMAP); and Ghous Buksh Mehr (PML-F).
Earlier, in his opening remarks Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif thanked the parliamentary leadership of the country for showing resolve and remaining steadfast for the supremacy of constitution and democracy. He said that the nation has moved forward in its democratic journey and the unity of the political leadership to safeguard national interest would be a significant factor in the evolution of political process. He said the political leadership has great responsibility to work for the collective good of the country while pursuing their respective party policies.
The PM said that after the judicial inquiry commission report the government was fully focusing on the development and prosperity of the country and is committed to resolve the problems of people. He expressed that he was very hopeful that the national leadership would leave behind the bitter experiences of the past and embark upon new beginning with the passion of strengthening democracy.
The parliamentary parties’ heads congratulated the prime minister for showing political magnanimity after issuance of report of the inquiry commission and termed its findings success of the democratic process. The leaders of JUI-F and MQM in their response apprised the prime minister that they will come back after consultation with their party leadership and will communicate the party policy about motions against PTI.
MQM MNA Mohammad Salman Khan Baloch and JUI-F MP Ms Naeema Kishwar on April 22 moved motions calling for de-seating of 28 PTI members who were absent without leave of the NA for 40 consecutive days of sitting and declaring of their seats vacant under Clause (2) of Article 64 of the Constitution.