PTI’s dilly-dallying with its MNAs resignations still going on

The PTI’s dilly-dallying with its decision that its MNAs are going to the National Assembly for the confirmation of their resignations is still going on as the party leadership has once again refused to appear before the NA speaker, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Sources informed on Tuesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has decided that its MNAs would not appear before the National Assembly speaker. Nevertheless, PTI leader Farrukh Habib on Sunday announced that lawmakers from his party would be visiting the National Assembly on Wednesday (Dec 28) for the acceptance of their resignations as members of the lower house of parliament.

However, NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf wrote a fresh letter to the PTI on the same day, asking its lawmakers to come individually for the verification of the resignations they had tendered in April. 

But, the sources revealed that the PTI has once again decided that its MPs would not appear in the National Assembly taking the plea that the speaker will be out of Islamabad.

The PTI sources said that the speaker is in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to take part in a function being held today in connection with the death anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

But the sources in speaker’s office said that he would return to the federal capital tonight. 

They said that the PTI leadership has informed its MNAs about the cancellation of its programme. 

The PTI had announced mass resignations from the NA in April this year, a day after party chief Imran Khan’s ouster as the prime minister through a no-confidence vote and shortly before Shehbaz Sharif was elected as his successor.

Then-NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri, in the capacity of the house’s acting speaker, had subsequently accepted the resignations of 123 PTI MNAs. However, incumbent Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf later decided to verify the resignations and eventually accepted the resignations of just 11 lawmakers on July 27, with the PTI taking an exception to the acceptance of a select few resignations.

PTI chief whip contacts NA speaker, party delegation to meet him  

Meanwhile, PTI chief whip in the National Assembly Amir Dogar contacted Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. 

On the directions of party Chairman Imran Khan, the PTI delegation expressed its desire to meet the National Assembly speaker. 

Sources said that Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted their request and said that he would welcome the PTI delegation. But, he said, he is in Larkana right now. He said he believes that political contacts should be made. 

He, however, said that PTI MNAs should come to National Assembly as all issues would be resolved in the parliament.

Reporters Kifayat Ali Shah and Usman Khan