Women, minority KP MPAs refuse to retake oath

PESHAWAR: Women and minority Members Provincial Assembly (MPAs) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday declined to take oath on the House floor, saying that the provincial governor had already administered the oath to them as per directives of the Peshawar High Court (PHC). Twenty-five members elected on reserved seats for women and minorities had taken oath as Members of the Provincial Assembly on July 20, a day before Senate elections in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had administered the oath at the Governor’s House after the PHC chief justice nominated him for this purpose. Since all the MPAs on reserved seats belonged to the opposition benches, the speaker adjourned the session on the day of the oath-taking due to lack of quorum.

On Monday, the women MPAs staged a walkout from the assembly proceedings when Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi asked them to retake the oath soon after the recitation from the Holy Quran. She said that the session convened on July 20 was meant for oath-taking, but the process could not be completed on the assembly floor due to lack of quorum.

Opposition Leader Dr Ibaadullah said there were no strangers on the assembly floor, as all elected MPAs had already taken oath and registered their names in the KP Assembly under Article 255 of the Constitution.

He said the members had cast votes in the Senate elections and regularly participated in the assembly business, and if they were asked to retake the oath, it would render the Senate elections and other assembly proceedings controversial.

Later, the KP Assembly passed two amendment bills—one relating to posting, transfer, appointment and deputation of teachers, instructors, lecturers, and doctors in the province, and another concerning the Transport Department.

The lawmakers also continued debate on the law and order situation and rain-related incidents in Buner, Swat, Swabi, and other parts of the province.

Awami National Party parliamentary leader Arbab Usman Khan said that all political parties, irrespective of their ideology, must join hands for permanent peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the merged districts. He said military operations, displacement of local people, and imposing curfews were not solutions.

“The PTI-led provincial government should come up with a clear policy on militancy and unrest in the province. On the one hand, it imposed curfew, and on the other, it opposed operations in Bajaur,” he said, adding that the ANP leadership and workers had rendered great sacrifices for peace and stability in the province.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi said that the PTI founding chairman and the KP government had opposed military operations in Bajaur and other parts of the province.

He alleged that the federal government had used all means and tools against PTI leadership and workers, but the party would continue its struggle for true democracy and rule of law in the country.

The minister added that the opposition parties in the KP Assembly were ruling partners in the federal government and, instead of blaming the provincial government, should question their own government at the Centre.

He said that the provincial government had released additional funds for relief and rehabilitation activities in Buner, Swat, Swabi, and other affected districts where rains and floods had caused devastation and human casualties.