ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday dismissed references filed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), seeking the disqualification of dissident legislators who had failed to support Khan in a vote of no confidence last month that saw him ousted from office.
Khan lost the crucial vote in the National Assembly on April 10 after over 20 PTI lawmakers and as well as legislators from coalition partners of his government refused to support him. Khan ceased to be the PM and Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the new premier.
The PTI subsequently filed references against the dissidents seeking their disqualifications from the National Assembly under Article 63-A of the constitution.
In its short verdict on Tuesday, the ECP “unanimously said the declaration filed against the MNAs was not found in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.”
Imran Khan’s close aide and former information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said the party would challenge the ECP verdict in the Supreme Court.
“Will we file a reference against the Election Commissioner in the Supreme Judicial Council as Election Commission has become PML-N’s B team,” Hussain said, referring to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party, which replaced Khan party in the center last month.
According to Article 63-A of the constitution, a parliamentarian can be disqualified on grounds of defection if he “votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by the parliamentary party to which he belongs, in relation to election of the prime minister or chief minister; or a vote of confidence or a vote of no-confidence; or a money bill or a Constitution (amendment) bill.”
The article says that the party head has to declare in writing that the MNA concerned has defected but before making the declaration, the party head will “provide such member with an opportunity to show cause as to why such declaration may not be made against him.”
After giving the member a chance to explain their reasons, the party head will forward the declaration to the speaker, who will forward it to the chief election commissioner (CEC). The CEC will then have 30 days to confirm the declaration.
If confirmed by the CEC, the member “shall cease to be a member of the House and his seat shall become vacant.”
Election Commission dismisses ex-PM Khan’s references seeking disqualification of dissident lawmakers
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Election Commission dismisses ex-PM Khan’s references seeking disqualification of dissident lawmakers
- Khan lost crucial no-confidence vote last month after over 20 lawmakers from his party pulled support
- PTI information secretary says verdict of Election Commission will be challenged in Supreme Court
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
