NA speaker accepts resignations of 35 more PTI MNAs

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, National Assembly Speaker Raja Parvez Ashraf Friday accepted the resignations of 35 more Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, dealing a massive blow to Imran Khan's plan to dislodge the Shehbaz Sharif government.

The number of PTI members whose resignations have been accepted by the speaker so far has reached 80. The PTI had resigned en masse from the NA after the PTI chairman was ousted through a no-confidence motion in April last year.

On Tuesday, Ashraf approved the resignations of 35 MPS including Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid after a delay of more than six months. On July 28, the resignations of 11 PTI MPs were approved on which by-elections were also held in October.

“In accordance with clause (1) of Article 64 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, read with Rule 43 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly of Pakistan 2007, the Hon’ble Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan has been pleased to accept the resignations of the following Members of the National Assembly with effect from April 11, 2022, the date when the letter of respective resignations were submitted,” a statement issued by the National Assembly Secretariat today stated.

Here's the list of PTI lawmakers whose resignations have been accepted:

‘Surprise once more’

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Attaullah Tarar took a jibe at the PTI after the resignations were accepted.

Sharing a picture of the breaking news on Twitter, Tarar wrote: “While Khan sahib was holding meetings on returning to the NA, [we ensured] his return.”

“Now do you still want to come back?” he quipped.

PTI terms move ‘illegal and immoral’

A meeting of the PTI parliamentary committee was underway at the KP House in Islamabad when Raja Parvez Ashraf accepted their resignations.

Afterwards, the opposition members walked to the speaker’s chamber but he was not present in his office to meet them.

Later, speaking to the media outside the Parliament House, former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser condemned the decision taken by his successor, terming it as “illegal and immoral”.

Qaisar said that Ashraf had told them that the resignations will not be accepted unless he verifies them individually.

Berating the speaker's decision, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry questioned his claims that the PTI MNAs were in touch with him regarding their resignations.

Chaudhry further added that as 81 resignations have been accepted, “a date for the upcoming general elections should also be given now”.

Expressing his displeasure over the decision, the PTI leader blamed the current government for the political and economic crisis. "We are heading towards a Sri Lanka-like situation," he said.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the speaker first said that he cannot accept the resignations collectively.

"We decided to come to the meeting and he [the speaker] postponed it and when we came to the assembly, he accepted the resignations of 35 more MNAs," said Qureshi, demanding that the rest of the resignations should also be accepted.

The party's vice chairman said that the PTI wants snap polls so that the people can decide for themselves.