To weaken Tehreek-i-Insaf, govt to accept resignations of key PTI MNAs

In a deft move to weaken the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s position in the Parliament, both the prime minister and National Assembly speaker have agreed to accept the resignations of the prominent PTI leaders.

Sources informed 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday that the coalition government had taken a big decision regrading to render the opposition PTI impotent in the National Assembly by accepting resignations tendered by the top leaders of the party. 

Both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf have completed their consultation in this regard and acquiesced to accept the resignations of the PTI Members of National Assembly. 

The premier and the speaker would soon take into confidence the parliamentary leaders of their allied parties on this matter. And after their approval, the speaker chamber would send for the leading PTI leaders the acceptance of their resignations. 

Sources in the speaker chamber said that the members would have to appear personally before the speaker to confirm or deny their resignations.

According to the spokesperson of the National Assembly, Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf has summoned the PTI MNAs to confirm their resignations on June 06 and the notices have been issued to 131 resigned members of the National Assembly.

The sources said a notice has also been issued to PTI Chairman Imran Khan to appear before the Speaker to confirm his resignation on June 06 at 11 am.

If an MNA confirms his resignation, the assembly secretariat would issue a notification of the acceptance of the resignation and will intimate the election commission later about his/her resignation. 

Sources say that the allied parties would jointly contest the by-elections on the seats to be vacated by the PTI MNAs.  

It is pertinent to mention here that on the day of no-confidence motion against then prime minister Imran Khan, 123 PTI MNAs tendered their resignations. 

Reporter: Usman Khan