ISLAMABAD: The ruling PTI Saturday issued show-cause notices to the 14 dissident lawmakers for allegedly allying with the Opposition a day after the party decided to move against the members ahead of the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
According to details, the dissident lawmakers have been given seven days to present themselves before PM Imran Khan.
The notices have been issued to the following MNAs:
Noor Alam Khan (NA-27 Peshawar-I)
Dr. Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla (NA-98 Bhakkar-II)
Nawab Sher (NA-102 Faisalabad-II)
Raja Riaz Ahmed (NA-110 Faisalabad-X)
Ahmed Hussain Deharr (NA-154 Multan-I)
Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon (NA-159 Multan-VI)
Muhammad Abdul Ghafar Wattoo (NA-166 Bahawalnagar-I)
Makhdoom Zada Syed Basit Ahmed Sultan (NA-185 Muzaffargarh-V)
Picture of the notice issued to Afzal Khan Dhandla. — Photo by author
The notice mentions that the interviews given to the media outlets by these members show that they have left PTI and therefore they are directed to present themselves before the party chairman.
“It is learnt via large scale broadcast videos circulated on different forums of media that you have left the Parliamentary Party of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and joined the Opposition parties, who have brought a motion of vote of no-confidence against the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, dated March 08, 2022,” the notice issued to Afzal Khan Dhandla read.
It further noted that the dissident lawmaker has neither denied the content of his interview nor has he issued any rebuttal to this “act of defection” and “your interviews contain a clear intent of leaving the membership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”
“Now, therefore, you are served with this show-cause notice in term of Article 63-A Sub Article 1(b) proviso which read as under
“Provided that before making such declaration, the party head shall provide such member with an opportunity to show cause as to why such declaration may not be made against him.”
“You are allowed to have an opportunity of hearing before the Head of the Parliamentary Party of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the National Assembly and explain as to why a declaration may not be issued against you, for getting you de-seated from membership of the National Assembly of Pakistan, in compliance of the constitutional provisions,” the notice read.
It further mentioned that the lawmaker may give a reply to this show cause notice and have a personal hearing before Imran Khan on or before 2pm on March 26, 2022 (Saturday).
‘Doors to repentance are open’
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that we still request people to return as “doors to repentance are open.”
“Imran Khan will not be blackmailed in this situation,” he said, adding those lawmakers who do not want to give a vote in favour of Prime Minister Imran Khan can resign from their seats.
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He said that the people of Pakistan joined him in honoring the bravery and tenacity of our Turkish brothers and sisters, who, under the capable leadership of President Erdogan, came out stronger from this strategy, in a post on X marking the end of two years since the devastating earthquake in Turkiye.
Today marks the second anniversary of the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Turkey, which destroyed entire cities and killed around 60,000 people, including in neighboring Syria.
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Pakistan’s unwavering and ongoing political, diplomatic, and spiritual support for Kashmiris in their rightful fight for the right to self-determination has been reaffirmed by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistan and Turkey have always supported one another during challenging times and will continue to do so, according to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
In an X post marking the two-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Turkey, he claimed that the people of Pakistan joined him in honoring the bravery and tenacity of our Turkish brothers and sisters, who, under President Erdogan’s capable leadership, came out stronger as a result of this tactic.
Today marks two years since the February 6, 2023, earthquake that destroyed entire cities and killed about 60,000 people, including in neighboring Syria.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck at 4:17 am in Southeastern Turkey caused thousands of residential buildings to collapse, killing several people in their wake.