ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday walked out of the National Assembly before the commencement of voting for the election of the country’s new prime minister after tendering resignations from the lower house.
The development comes two days after an unceremonious end to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s tenure as the country’s chief executive through a no-confidence vote.
As the session commenced after the recitation of the Holy Quran, deputy speaker Qasim Suri gave reasons behind earlier his ruling, which was set aside by Supreme Court.
“The ruling was declared unconstitutional by the court and we all are obliged to respect the court. But I want to tell you the reason behind my ruling,” said Suri. He added that the decision was taken “as a responsible Pakistani and deputy speaker of the NA”.
He then referred to a communique, which purportedly contained evidence of a foreign conspiracy to topple Imran Khan’s government, saying that cable was discussed in the federal cabinet, a meeting of the National Security Committee and a meeting of the parliamentary committee for security.
“And it was proven that the no-confidence motion [was linked] to a foreign conspiracy,” he said. Suri added that on April 9, it was decided during a cabinet meeting that the cable would be declassified and sent to then-NA speaker Asad Qaiser by the government.
“Talking about an independent foreign policy, independent economy and fighting the case of Islamophobia Imran Khan’s fault?” “Was he [Imran] punished because he refused slavery?” Suri asked.
But, he added, “I accept the Supreme Court’s decision the matter.” He appeal to MNAs to think about the matter and apologised for hurting anyone’s sentiments.
PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi took the floor after the deputy speaker’s clarification on his earlier ruling. As Qureshi finished his speech, Suri said his “conscience no longer allows him to be a part of the proceedings” and gave the chair of the house to PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq.
Submission of nomination papers
Both Shehbaz and Qureshi had filed their nomination papers yesterday, hours after Imran Khan’s ouster as the prime minister. Qureshi had submitted four forms with the NA Secretariat, while Shehbaz had filed 13 forms.
During the submission of the nomination papers, the PTI had raised objections to Shehbaz’s nomination and subsequently PTI’s Qureshi and Babar Awan had exchanged heated words with PML-N leaders Zahid Hamid and Atta Tarar.
The senior PTI leaders had submitted objections against Shehbaz, stating that the latter was contesting the election on the day of his expected indictment in a money laundering case. They were of the opinion that he did not deserve to be the new PM due to his “involvement” in corruption cases.
On Monday, the court, however, deferred the indictment. Responding to these allegations, Tarar had said since Shehbaz had not been convicted in any case, his nomination could not be rejected merely on the basis of allegations.
Hamid had reminded the PTI leaders that nomination could be rejected only on the grounds mentioned in the Constitution and Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the NA, 2007, under which the candidate for the office of PM must be a Muslim, an MNA and signature of the candidate and his proposer and seconder must be genuine. The NA secretary had eventually accepted the nomination papers of both the candidates.
