[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]The National Assembly (NA) spokesperson announced on Wednesday that a meeting between PTI legislators and Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has been arranged for Thursday in order to personally verify the party MNAs’ impending resignations. This meeting had previously been postponed several times.
A day after Imran Khan, the leader of the PTI, was dismissed as prime minister by a vote of no-confidence and just before Shehbaz Sharif was chosen to succeed him, the PTI announced widespread resignations from the National Assembly. Only 11 PTI legislators who had resigned following the vote of no confidence against the former PM had their resignations accepted by the National Assembly speaker on July 28.
On August 1, the PTI filed its first legal appeal against the action, arguing that it was “unsustainable.” However, on September 6, the IHC had rejected the plea. The party subsequently petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the IHC judgement, calling it “vague, superficial, and against the law.” The Supreme Court has not yet made a judgement regarding the PTI’s appeal.
But Ashraf has remarked time and time again that he wouldn’t accept the resignations without “confirming their sincerity.” In a letter to PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi earlier this month, he invited the party’s MNAs for verification.
Former PTI chief whip Malik Amir Dogar and Ashraf spoke on the phone today, according to a tweet from the NA spokeswoman providing an update on the situation.
“The speaker told Dogar that both he and the deputy speaker were present in their offices and were waiting for PTI MNAs,” he said. “After mutual consultation, it has been decided that PTI lawmakers will meet the speaker in his chamber at 11:30 tomorrow (Thursday).”
The spokesperson continued that the caller mentioned that all parties should participate in parliament for the benefit and prosperity of the nation.
This is Dogar and Ashraf’s second phone call together this week. A day earlier, the former PTI top whip contacted Ashraf, who was attending a PPP power show in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, and asked for a formal meeting to discuss the subject of the confirmation of the resignations of 124 PTI MNAs.
Dogar informed the NA speaker that Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pervez Khattak, and other PTI leaders wanted to meet with him. But later on Tuesday, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry informed journalists in Lahore that Ashraf was “nowhere to be found” when party leaders called on him today.
Chaudhry stated, “[We were] told that the speaker has gone to Larkana.” According to the information we have, he will travel to Australia after.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
