Asad Qaiser, a senior leader from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), expressed his disappointment on Monday, stating that PTI-backed independent candidates who supported a controversial constitutional amendment had betrayed the party and its founder, Imran Khan.
The government secured 225 votes, just one more than the required 224, with critical support from a few independent Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), including those endorsed by PTI. These included Zahoor Qureshi, Aurangzeb Khichi, Usman Ali, Mubarak Zeb, and Chaudhry Ilyas from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Read: NA Ratifies 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2024 Despite Divided Opinions
Judicial reforms were passed during a late-night parliamentary session. They changed the selection process for the CJP, who will now be appointed by a parliamentary committee for a three-year term. Additionally, a new constitutional bench will be established.
Qaiser, in a press briefing, accused the supporting members of treachery against the party and its founder.
He criticized the government for flouting parliamentary norms in passing the bill, claiming it ignored established rules and procedures. He declared the parliamentary actions unconstitutional and criticized Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s lack of representation in the Senate.
Qaiser also condemned the government’s methods of securing support, labelling them shameful and coercive.
Moreover, Qaiser declared the current assembly illegitimate, stating it lacked the people’s mandate and dismissing its legislation as invalid. He warned of legal repercussions for those who defied the party’s stance, specifically noting that Zain Qureshi abstained from voting while Shah Mahmood Qureshi continued to make sacrifices for PTI.
He urged the public to shun the dissenting members and announced a full inquiry by PTI to address the situation and hold the guilty accountable.
