ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday praised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers who resigned from the National Assembly, saying they had stood up to the “US-initiated regime change.”
Khan lost his parliamentary majority in recent weeks and was driven out of power in a no-confidence vote which was described by his party as part of an elaborate conspiracy hatched by the United States to bring down his administration.
US officials have repeatedly denied the allegation.
The acting National Assembly speaker, Qasim Khan Suri, on Wednesday announced he had accepted the resignations of 123 lawmakers belonging to the PTI party.
“Want to appreciate our 123 MNAs [Members National Assembly] as their resignations have been accepted by Speaker Qasim Suri,” tweeted Khan, adding these PTI lawmakers stood for a sovereign Pakistan.
The acting speaker issued an order on Wednesday, announcing he had received 125 resignations from PTI lawmakers.
“I have perused all the resignations and reached the conclusion that all of them except the resignation of Prince Muhammad Nawaz Altai, NA-12 and Mr. Jawwad Hussian, NA-47, are given voluntarily and are genuine,” he said.
“I accept these 123 resignations and order to notify the same in the Gazette,” he added.
According to the rules, fresh elections need to be held on the 123 seats that have fallen vacant after the resignations.
Pakistan’s election commission has already announced it cannot hold general elections until October due to procedural and other related issues.
The country’s former prime minister held a public gathering in Peshawar on Tuesday, demanding fresh polls across the country and vowing to continue with his protest until the election date was announced.
