The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday resigned from the National Assembly, minutes before the election for the new prime minister is scheduled to place.
The decision was taken in a party’s parliamentary meeting, which was chaired by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, at the Parliament House today afternoon.
“The parliamentary party has decided to resign from the assemblies against the imported government,” PTI Central Information Secretary Farrukh Habib confirmed in a tweet.
Immediately after the announcement, Murad Saeed tendered his resignation as a member of the NA — the first from the party.
Former maritime affairs minister Ali Haider Zaidi also followed suit, announcing his resignation on Twitter. He said he had submitted his resignation to the party chairman.
“No way we should legitimize this foreign-funded regime change in Pakistan. The battle for the sovereignty of Pakistan will now be decided on the streets by the people, not these looters,” he said.
Former minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur also shared a photo of his resignation on the party’s letterhead. “I am proud to be a follower of Imran Khan and will fight till my death for the freedom of Pakistan and parliament,” he said.
PTI leaders Shireen Mazari, Hammad Azhar, and Shafqat Mahmood shared their resignations on Twitter too.
NA to vote on PM election shortly
Following an unceremonious end to Imran Khan’s tenure via a no-confidence vote, the National Assembly will meet today to elect a new premier. Shehbaz — who is the former joint opposition candidate for the prime minister’s slot — and PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi were in the race to become the country’s new prime minister.
Both Shehbaz and Qureshi had filed their nomination papers yesterday. During the submission, the PTI had raised objections to Shehbaz’s nomination and subsequently, PTI’s Qureshi and Babar Awan had exchanged heated words with PML-N leaders Zahid Hamid and Atta Tarar.
The senior PTI leaders had submitted objections against Shehbaz, stating that the latter was contesting the election on the day of his expected indictment in a money laundering case. They were of the opinion that he did not deserve to be the new PM due to his “involvement” in corruption cases.
Shehbaz is believed to have a better chance of getting to the top spot while Qureshi’s participation in the election was earlier uncertain since the PTI was debating resignations from the lower house. Qureshi is likely to also resign in accordance with the party’s decision, although no announcement has been made so far. If that happens, Shehbaz would be elected unopposed as prime minister.
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