Will seek resignation if Syedaal does not apologise to senators: Shibli

ISLAMABAD: Leader of Opposition in the Senate and senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Shibli Faraz has said his party would press for resignation of Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan, if he did not apologise to the upper house members.

Talking to The News here, he maintained that their demand for the deputy chairman’s resignation was there but if he apologises to the members for “disrespecting” them, then they would not press for it.

“His resignation is a condition and if he does not apologise then, at the next stage, we will be moving gradually (for his resignation),” he added. On seeing the head count of voting on PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz’s State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) amendment bill being withheld, the party senators had protested and demanded resignation of the deputy chairman, who was chairing the sitting.

The government had taken the position that the bill was in conflict with the Constitution and the government’s nod was necessary prior to moving such a bill concerning SBP. However, the opposition had rejected this stance and insisted that since the bill was brought back to the House after having gone through the laid down procedure and counting was also made, therefore, voting result must be announced.

Faraz reiterated the allegation that Syedaal Khan had become controversial for his conduct and attitude towards the opposition. “We have presented our demands on the floor of the House and awaiting the other side’s response. Fulfilment of our genuine demands is essential for smooth proceedings in the Senate,” he emphasised.

On the last day of the recent session on Friday, the opposition leader had demanded restoration of PTI’s three suspended senators --Aon Abbas, Humayun Mohmand and Falak Naz, as well as announcing result of counting concerning the SBP bill and apologising to the senators, particularly those suspended by Syedaal.

Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram lashed out at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “illegitimate” government, which he said “systematically trampled upon the rule of law, eradicated constitutional supremacy, paralysed the judiciary, ruined the fast-thriving economy and unleashed a reign of terror to ensure the regime’s authoritarian grip on power”.

In a statement issued here, he alleged that this regime, imposed through a “fraudulent” electoral process, had not only made mockery of law and Constitution but also pushed the country into the abyss of economic collapse, international isolation and unprecedented security challenges.

Akram alleged that Nawaz and the entire Sharif family built their political careers on backdoor deals, shortcuts and fraudulent tactics, rather than through the will of the people, adding the current “illegitimate” governments led by Shehbaz and Maryam in the Centre and Punjab, respectively, speak volumes about it.

He emphasised that the past year had been a dark chapter in the country’s history during which Shehbaz and his team systematically paralysed the state institutions, undermined the judiciary, and unleashed a reign of terror against PTI leaders and workers.

The PTI information secretary further alleged that the government’s use of state machinery to silence dissent and suppress political opposition was a clear violation of democratic principles and human rights. He said the “unlawful” imprisonment of PTI founder Imran Khan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Umer Sarfaraz Cheema and other leaders and workers of the party was a glaring example of this regime’s “fascist tendencies”, demanding their immediate release.

He further said the common man had been burdened with unaffordable energy bills amid severe gas shortages and unscheduled load-shedding, making daily life unbearable, while the ruling elite continued to “plunder” national resources with impunity.

“This inept government’s self-serving policies have further exacerbated the crises, resulting in a complete economic meltdown, as investment has dried up, industries shutting down, and unemployment reaching record levels,” he added.