NA speaker defends decision to accept resignations of PTI lawmakers – Pakistan

Speaker of the National Assembly Raja Perwaiz Ashraf on Thursday defended his decision accept resignation of PTI legislators, saying he only did so after they were able to “satisfy him” by proving it was “voluntary decision and not under pressure.

In an apparent attempt to derail PTI’s alleged plan to attract confidence petition against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ashraf on Tuesday accepted the resignation of 34 PTI legislators along with Muslim League chief Awami Sheikh Rashid, resulting in in their removal from notification by the election commission of Pakistan.

ECP Communiqué regarding de-notification of members, mainly senior management of PTI and former members of Imran Khan’s cabinet came as a surprise for PTI, as well as political experts in just two weeks, the backspeaker refused to accept the resignation.

Meanwhile, the PTI leader and former NA Speaker Assad Qaiser named Ashraf move be a “serious injustice” to the speaker office.

“When you hold a constitutional position, you should do decisions preservation in remember the law and the constitution. You must act in conformity with law [rather] than wish fulfillment of political peopleKaiser said.

Speaking to media on On Thursday, the NA Speaker announced that he had accepted his resignation of these legislators who convinced him that they had submitted their resignations voluntarily, like those who had made their position on cause clear in in media.

Ashraf said several PTI lawmakers have contacted him saying they are still considering the issue. over in decision get out of the bottom house of parliament.

“Many PTI members spoke to me on phone and said they were still thinking about it. They are also told me that they were initially told that submitting their resignations was just a pressure tactic.”

Ashraf said that after hearing such statements, he hesitated and did not accept the resignation until he was completely satisfied. “Before I accept any resignation, I do sure that the person who retired made in decision of their own free will and conscience.”

He said, “There is noise and shouting when I don’t accept my resignation, and there is noise and shouting when I do.”

Ashraf dismissed a claim that he accepted the resignation due to PTI chairman Imran Khan hinting at the party’s return to the assembly.

“There is nothing as such. Process of the acceptance of the resignation was triggered when I was visited by a PTI delegation,” he said, referring to the meeting held last month.

“We are going over them media statements, their tweets and their signatures before accepting decision about their resignation.

He said that the deputies whose resignations have not yet been accepted should back to assembly.