‘Illegal’ MPAs won’t be allowed to take oath, says Gandapur

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday warned that they would not allow those becoming members of the assembly ‘illegally’ to take oath.

“How can our reserved seats be given to political parties? I am saying this with a loud voice that we will not let them take oath on reserved seats,” Ali Amin Gandapur told a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House.

He said the provincial assembly speaker had ordered an inquiry against the non-elected people and those who had brought them to the assembly.

Gandapur accused the Election Commission of Pakistan of violating the Constitution by postponing the Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The chief minister said they would go to any extent but would not allow anyone to snatch their reserved seats.

“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have given us a clear-cut mandate but some people are creating hurdles for us to serve our people and the province as per the Constitution of the country. The February 8 elections were the worst polls in terms of rigging as they stole our mandate and installed a fake government in the Centre and Punjab,” said the chief minister.

Gandapur said they had been demanding that a judicial commission be formed to thoroughly investigate the May 9 incidents. He said an organised campaign had been launched against the PTI and its members in the country.

“Not a single PTI member was involved in the May 9 incidents. How the protesters reached the most secured area of Lahore to torch the Jinnah House. And who opened the gates and where the security guards of that important installation were,” Gandapur asked, saying fake cases had been filed against them.

He said there should be a full court hearing on the May 9 incidents and he would offer himself first before the court to punish him if he or anyone else in the PTI was found involved in any violence. “It is strange to note as fake cases had been filed against the PTI members who were not even present at the time of violence. But those who were present at the scenes of violence were not charged with any offence when they quit PTI,” said the KP chief minister.

Gandapur said their party held its parliamentary meeting and passed two resolutions, first demanding a full court hearing on the May 9 incidents and second on rigging in the February 8 elections. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is a Form 47 prime minister but since he is holding the prime minister’s slot, therefore, I will continue to meet him as I need to serve my province and its people. I am a chief minister of 45 and that’s why the federal government is not listening to our genuine problems,” said Gandapur.

He claimed that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had won 17 seats of the National Assembly in the country, followed by Pakistan Peoples Party 13 seats as per form 45, alleging that both the parties helped steal the PTI votes. “Even in Punjab, PMLN has won 25 seats as per form 45. But they stole our mandate wherever it was possible,” he said.

Gandapur said he would continue his struggle to get Rs1,510 billion arrears of the net hydel profit from the federal government to KP.

“We understand the federal government will not be able to pay us our arrears of Rs1,510 billion at once. They can pay us in instalments but we would not remain silent on this important issue,” the chief minister vowed.

He said his leader Imran Khan has also directed him to continue his efforts to achieve the rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.