PTI MNAs to attend NA session only after annulment of their de-notification

The 43 Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members of the National Assembly (MNAs), who were due to attend the NA session today following the suspension of their de-notification by the Election Commission of Pakistan yesterday, (Wednesday, February 8, 2023), today decided to skip the session, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Sources in the PTI told 24News TV channel that now the party MNAs would attend the session only after the Lahore High Court (LHC) released its verdict in writing.

Not only that they would attend the assembly session only when the court declared their de-notification null and void and not merely suspended it, sources elaborated. 

The MNAs had to change their mind after they elicited the opinion of the NA speaker and the secretariat on the subject. 

While most of the PTI MNAs returned to the Parliament Lodges, nine MNAs decided to sit in the chamber of Shahzad Waseem, and wait for orders from the party’s high command.

The LHC had suspended the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to accept the resignations of 43 MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The court also stopped by-elections in 43 constituencies until next order. It also issued notices to the ECP and other parties and sought their replies.

Following LHC's decision to suspend ECP order of denotifying 43 members of National Assembly, the PTI MNAs earlier have been directed to reach the Parliament today.

On the arrival of the PTI members, the National Assembly (NA) speaker and the government officials have also called a meeting.

The PTI MNAs have started arriving in Islamabad from their respective constituencies.

The 43 MNAs of the PTI, who had pleaded with the court to suspend the acceptance of their resignations by the NA speaker, have been ordered to unite in the chamber of opposition leader Shahzad Wasim in the Senate.

The strategy for the PTI lawmakers’ return to the Parliament will be decided in the chamber of the opposition leader of the Senate.

It is to be noted here that the PTI has also demanded the removal of Raja Riaz as the opposition leader.

The PTI has demanded the seat of the opposition leader for itself.

The NA speaker will consult with constitutional and legal experts and important government officials on the issue.

The most important meeting will be held in the Speaker’s office in which the PTI MNA’s return to the Parliament will be reviewed.

The decision of the Lahore High Court has not been received by the National Assembly secretariat so far, the assembly sources have said.

As soon as the order is received, the Speaker will clarify the strategy after constitutional and legal review of the matter.

This decision is currently with the election commission that the holding of by-elections has been stopped until further orders.

Today, the most important consultation will be held on this issue. After review of the court’s decision, the next strategy will be decided.

Whether the PTI members should be allowed or prevented from coming to the House will be decided after the consultation today.

Reporter: Usman Khan and Kifayat Ali Shah