Tag: Sindh House

  • PTI rejects ECP decision to defer Sindh local body elections, plans to challenge it

    PTI rejects ECP decision to defer Sindh local body elections, plans to challenge it

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to postpone the Sindh local body elections and plans to challenge it in court.

    PTI leader Ali Zaidi said the party condemns ECP’s decision, adding that the electoral body was already controversial. “The ECP decision will be challenged in the Sindh High Court,” he said.

    The ECP announced the postponement of polls owing to Muharram and rainy weather.

    PTI leadership decides to stick around in Lahore till the election of Punjab CM

    Later, PTI Chairman Imran Khan postponed his Karachi visit ahead of Punjab’s chief minister election tomorrow, July 22.

    “Before the postponement of polls in Sindh, a PTI spokesman insisted that it was the party’s consensus decision that Khan should focus more on Punjab, and because of this he couldn’t spare two days — July 21 and 22 — for Karachi and Hyderabad,” reports Dawn.

    Lahore seeing a repetition of Sindh House horse-trading: Imran Khan

    On July 20, Khan claimed that horse-trading was happening in Lahore with MPAs being offered Rs500 million to switch their loyalty.

    “Today, Lahore is seeing a repetition of the Sindh House horse-trading episode that happened in Islamabad, with up to Rs500 million being offered to buy MPAs,” tweeted the PTI chairman. He alleged that PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was the “main architect” behind this, adding that the former president has secured an “NRO for his corruption and purchases people with looted wealth”.

    “This is not only an attack on our democracy but also on the moral fabric of our society. Had Supreme Court taken action and debarred these turncoats for life, it would have acted as a deterrent,” claimed the PTI chairman.

    Khan further claimed that after his government was “toppled with stolen money from Sindh and NRO 2 achieved, certified criminal Asif Zardari in cahoots with Sharif mafia now seeking to steal Punjab people’s mandate by trying to purchase MPAs”.

    “Want to ask the Honourable Supreme Court: are they not cogniscant of the damage being wreaked? Isn’t destruction of our democracy, Constitution and nation’s morality a fit case for Suo Moto action? Are the ‘neutrals’ not realising how our beloved country is literally being destroyed on all fronts by the Imported government brought in through US regime change conspiracy?”

    PTI to move Supreme Court against horse-trading: Fawad Chaudhry

    On the other hand, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that the party will move the Supreme Court against horse-trading.

    “We want Rana Sanaullah, Zardari, and Ataullah Tarar to get arrested and the court to conduct an immediate inquiry into the matter,” he added.

  • MNA Ali Wazir granted bail ahead of no-confidence motion vote against PM Khan

    MNA Ali Wazir granted bail ahead of no-confidence motion vote against PM Khan

    Member of National Assembly (MNA) Ali Wazir from South Waziristan has been released from Karachi’s central prison on parole to participate in the no-trust vote against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

    Members of the Opposition had submitted a written request on March 25, asking the NA Speaker to issue the production order for every detained lawmaker — irrespective of their party affiliation — allowing them to exercise their right to vote.

    Ali Wazir will be in Sindh House in Islamabad. A room in Sindh House has been declared as a sub-jail for Wazir.

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MNA Jam Abdul Karim from Karachi has been granted protective bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000 by the Sindh High Court.

     The no-confidence motion against PM Khan will be discussed in the National Assembly during the Lower House session today (Thursday), scheduled to start at 4pm.

    The NA Secretariat issued the order of the day for today on Wednesday night, with a discussion on the no-trust move against the premier on the session’s agenda.

  • ‘Apkay bachon se koyi shadi nahi karega’: PM warns MNAs, Twitter reacts

    ‘Apkay bachon se koyi shadi nahi karega’: PM warns MNAs, Twitter reacts

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan took a jibe at dissident party MNAs who had “sought refuge” at the Sindh House and said, “You will not be able to attend public gatherings and no one will marry your children when they grow up.”

    “Your children will be made fun of at their school,” added PM Khan.

     “We all make mistakes. Allah also forgives his slaves. I am just like a father figure to you all.”

    “But for God’s sake, don’t make such a big mistake by joining hands with the corrupt Opposition. Think about your children’s future,” said PM Khan.

    Twitterati reacted to PM Khan’s words. Some Twitter users called PM Khan a “bully”, while many had hilarious replies to his speech.

    https://twitter.com/abdullahsultan/status/1505522553732755457

  • Hopeful PM Khan: public pressure will force PTI members to come back

    Hopeful PM Khan: public pressure will force PTI members to come back

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Rawalpindi Ring Road project has said that ‘mark my words all the members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) who have left will come back due to the party’.

    “And mark my words, as the no-confidence motion comes near, all those who are in talks with the Opposition will return as the people are angry at the lawmakers for venality,” the premier said.

    “The public would force the dissident PTI lawmakers — who are around a dozen — to come back to their party,” said PM Khan.

    “Times have changed […] and on March 27 — when PTI will stage a rally in Islamabad — everyone will witness a historic gathering.”

    Talking about the PTI workers who stormed the Sindh House in the capital where the disgruntled lawmakers were residing, he said what is the Opposition fearing and why so much security is being provided.

    PM Khan further said if the PPP is “buying” the loyalties of the PTI lawmakers, then it must be through the funds given to the Sindh government — “it is illegal as the people’s money cannot to used to lure in other party lawmakers”.

    The premier further said that “never in the history of Pakistan” has any provincial force been deployed “just to safeguard” the MNAs of other parties.

    “So why did they need Sindh police over there [Sindh House]? Because illegal activities were taking place there. People have now seen their reality,” the premier said.

    “They are so afraid of public pressure that no one [in the UK] can do the things that are happening at the Sindh House,” PM Imran Khan said but noted that no one was allowed to resort to violence.

  • Fawad Chaudhry says govt to file reference in SC for interpretation of Article 63 (A)

    Fawad Chaudhry says govt to file reference in SC for interpretation of Article 63 (A)

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that the government would file a reference in the Supreme Court, asking it to interpret Article 63 (A) of the Constitution.

    The minister took to Twitter and in a series of tweets said, “The Supreme Court will be asked about the legal status of the vote of party members when they are clearly involved in horse-trading and changed their loyalties in exchange for money.”

    Fawad said that the government would seek the apex court’s guidance on whether a person, who shifts loyalty for monetary benefit, should be ineligible for lifetime to become a lawmaker or whether they could contest polls again and be elected to parliament.

    “The Supreme Court will be requested to hear the case on a daily basis,” he said.

    Fawad’s words come a day after several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, who were staying at the Sindh House in Islamabad, revealed that they were in the Opposition camp now.

    Article 65-A

    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”.

    The government has already indicated that it will use Article 63 (A) to “crush” the no-confidence motion against PM Imran.

  • 24 PTI members at PPP Sindh House, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘lotay’ identified

    24 PTI members at PPP Sindh House, Fawad Chaudhry says ‘lotay’ identified

    Around 24 members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are currently staying at the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sindh House.

    PTI’s disgruntled member of the National Assembly (NA) Raja Riaz, who is part of the Jahangir Khan Tareen Group (JKT) claimed on Wednesday while speaking with senior journalist Hamid Mir said that if Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan assures all MNAs that no action will be taken against those who decided to vote against him on the day of the no-confidence motion, they are ready to go back to the Parliament Lodges.

    As per media reports, PTI members who are currently staying at the Sindh House include Raja Riaz, Nawab Sher Waseer, Rana Qasim Noon, Ghaffar Wattoo, Noor Alam Khan, Riaz Mazari, Basit Bukhari, Khawaja Sheraz, Ahmad Hasan Dehar, Nuzhat Pathan, and Wajeeha Akram. 

    Sources added that a list containing the names of the MNAs staying at the Sindh House has been sent to PM Imran Khan.

    Riaz told journalist Mir that the disgruntled members would vote for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan in “accordance with their conscience.”

    PTI MNAs Malik Nawab Sher Waseer and Riaz said that around 24 PTI members have been staying in the Sindh House right now. He further said that many other ministers are ready to come here, however, PML-N is unable to accommodate all the members.

    “The disgruntled members fear that the government will take action against them similar to the March-10 raid by police on the Parliament Lodges,” Mir confirmed.

    Reacting to Riaz’s statement, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that some “lotay” have been identified after they feared that action would be taken against them.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the government was “planning strong action” against alleged horse-trading and detention of MNAs at Sindh House.

    In a video shared by the PTI on Twitter, he said the government has received information that a large amount of money had been shifted to Sindh House, which he termed the “capital of horse-trading at the moment”.

    The premier said in a public address on Wednesday that opposition leaders were sitting in Sindh House with “heaps of money” to purchase loyalties of treasury lawmakers and had asked the election commission to take action against the alleged horse-trading.