By Shehreyar Makhdoom
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar announced on Sunday the reference for the interpretation of Article 63(A) is “ready” and will be presented before the Supreme Court today (March 21).
The minister said: “Hopefully, with this case, the selling of consciousness by becoming turncoats will end once and for all.”
Umar also hoped that the case will lead to a reduction in buying of votes via illegitimate means.
Govt approaches SC to seek clarity on Article 63(A) Earlier, the government had decided to approach the SC for interpretation of Article 63(A) as several PTI lawmakers announced to vote on the no-trust motion, in a violation of the party policy. The decision was taken during a consultative meeting of the PTI’s political committee held with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair on Friday.
The meeting discussed the legal options available to act against the disgruntled lawmakers and counter the Opposition’s move to dislodge the government of Imran Khan. Moreover, The federal government has decided to approach the Supreme Court for interpretation of Article 63-A as several PTI lawmakers have announced to vote on the no-trust motion, in a violation of the party policy, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said Friday.
The decision was taken during a consultative meeting of the PTI’s political committee held today with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.
The meeting was convened to discuss the legal options available to act against the disgruntled lawmakers and counter the Opposition’s move to dislodge the government of Imran Khan.
It came to light Thursday that around 24 PTI MNAs were residing at the Sindh House in Islamabad — and some of them had publicly announced to go against the party. Hours later, the prime minister called a meeting of the senior party leadership and directed National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the disgruntled members.
In a series of tweets today, Fawad Chaudhry said the government would file a petition under Article 186 of the Constitution to seek the interpretation of Article 63-A. “… we will seek the Supreme Court’s interpretation as to what will be the standing of a party member’s vote who is found in violation of the party’s policy and is involved in horsetrading,” the federal minister said.
The information minister said the government would seek the apex court’s guidance on whether a person, who shifts loyalty for monetary benefit, should be ineligible for a lifetime for becoming 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.
The prime minister, according to sources, assigned the responsibility for filing the reference in the apex court to PTI Additional Secretary Amir Mahmood Kiani and Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan.
“We will take such decisions that no one will be able to indulge in horsetrading next time,” the prime minister told the participants.
The premier also directed the PTI leaders present in the meeting to ramp up the preparations for the March 27 rally — where the ruling party plans on gathering one million people, a day before the voting on the no-trust motion.
“All the lawmakers and party members should participate,” he said.
“No matter how much money they spend to remove me, I will fight them,” he said.
24 PTI MNAs seek refuge in Sindh House
A couple of days ago, 24 PTI MNAs had moved to the Sindh House out of fear that the government will take action against them similar to the March 10 raid by the police on the Parliament Lodges.
MNA Raja Riaz, who is a member of the Jahangir Tareen group, had told journalist Hamid Mir that the disgruntled members would vote for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan in “accordance with their conscience.”
