PML-N to vote against anti-PTI motions

ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday announced in the National Assembly (NA) that it would vote against the motions submitted by the JUI-F and MQM for disqualification of legislators of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for being absent from the NA. The ruling party has also asked both the parties to withdraw the motion so that it could be not presented for voting.
“We appealed to the JUI-F and MQM to withdraw their motions as per the request of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but if voting is done on Tuesday (today) on the motion, then the PML-N would oppose the disqualification of the PTI legislators,” said Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar while giving the policy statement on the behalf of the government in the NA.
The goodwill gesture of the PML-N government towards its rival PTI gets a positive response from all political parties sitting on the opposition benches except the MQM, which opted to keep quiet on the issue and kept its cards close to chest.
The PTI responded positively to the announcement of Dar as its senior leader Dr Arif Alvi appreciated the PML-N’s move saying it was in line with the spirit of democracy.PPP’s Ijaz Jhakrani, JI’s Sher Akbar Khan and Ghazi Ghulab Jamal from Fata appreciated the goodwill gesture and extended their full support to the government to oppose the motion if presented for voting.
The government had sought time from Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq last Tuesday on a private members’ day for postponement of voting on the motion for a week so that the government could convince both the JUI-F and MQM to withdraw the disqualification motion against the PTI legislators for being absent from the NA for 40 days.
Giving a policy statement on the floor of the House, Dar said he would not be able to attend the session on Tuesday so with the consent of the prime minister, he was announcing as promised that the government will vote against the motion.
The finance minister expressed the confidence that the JUI-F, being an ally of the government, would withdraw itswithdraw its motion too so that PTI is allowed to play its parliamentary role.
He said democratic process should move ahead and all political parties should work together on national issues. “There is need that all political parties of the country should stand united on the national issues such as of Chinese-Pak Economic Corridor etc. We want political parties to work in collaboration for electoral reforms,” he added.
The minister said it is hoped that MQM leadership will withdraw the resolution after consultation among the leaders so that voting on the resolution can be avoided. “It will be good if MQM withdraws the resolution,” he added.