Deadlock persists as NA speaker insists PTI MPs appear in person

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday met National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in his chamber to discuss verification of resignations of the party lawmakers, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The delegation was headed by former NA speaker Asad Qaiser while other PTI leaders include Qasim Soori, Amir Dogar, Amjad Niazi and Faheem Khan.

The speaker and the delegation discussed the matter related to the resignations of PTI MNAs in detail.

سپیکر راجہ پرویز اشرف سے ملاقات کے لیے پی ٹی آئی کے وفد کی سابق سپیکر اسد قیصر کی سربراہی میں پارلیمنٹ ہاؤس آمد،

ملاقات میں پی ٹی آئی کے قومی اسمبلی سے استعفوں کے معاملے پر تبادلہ خیال۔ pic.twitter.com/KR9o8Phf8P

— National Assembly of 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) December 29, 2022

‘Will decide on resignations as per NA rules’

Speaking to the delegation, the NA speaker said that dialogues are the only solution in a parliamentary democracy, adding that the decision on the resignations will be made as per the Constitution and rules of the assembly.

However, he reiterated that every party MNA has to personally confirm his resignation.

“A resignation letter must be handwritten by the member, as per the constitutional requirement,” Ashraf said.

“It is written in the constitution that the speaker will summon a member and seek his verification,” Pervaiz Ashraf said. “I had invited the PTI members for personal verification of their resignations,” he said.

Speaker said that some members who had tendered resignations went to court and told that they had resigned under duress.

“I have talked with the PTI delegation in an amicable atmosphere, told them there are some rules and regulations. It is the responsibility of my office to see if the member was under any pressure,” Pervaiz Ashraf said. “As speaker I am same for everyone,” he added.

“I am writing a letter to all members on resignations to come and present their stance,” he said. “PTI delegation said they will talk to the party to present our stance,” Ashraf said. ” They told me to act as Speaker required”. How the issues will be solved if you will not attend the house and not talk,” he said.

“The country needs reconciliation and amity, it needs improvement in existing situation, obstinacy of someone should not be above the national interest,” Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said.

“I didn’t pick and choose in approval of 11 resignations. Accepted those resignations that were handwritten or announced in the house or at media,” Ashraf described.

“I told them, if you want, I am writing letter again to all members. I would not approve collective resignations,” he added.

“Why they failed to come when I had written letter to all members,” he questioned.

The meeting came after PTI’s Chief Whip Amir Dogar yesterday contacted the NA speaker, requesting him to meet the PTI delegation.

The National Assembly Sunday announced a clear policy regarding the confirmation of resignations of the PTI members, according to which, every party MNA had to personally confirm his resignation.

It is pertinent to mention here that PTI announced mass resignations from the lower house of parliament on April 11, a day after the ouster of then prime minister Imran Khan through a vote of no-confidence.

On July 28, the speaker accepted the resignations of only 11 PTI lawmakers. The PTI challenged the move in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in August but court dismissed the petition.