Islamabad: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Monday deferred until next week progress on motions seeking to de-seat lawmakers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The motions had been brought by legislators of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah and Finance Minister Ishaq say they will speak to the two parties and will try to convince them to take back the motions.
PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he appreciated the manner in which NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had handled the matter.
We believe that we are elected members and that we have to play our role in Parliament, said Qureshi speaking on the floor on the House.
Qureshi said the prime minister had also emphasised the previous day on the need to move forward in a positive manner.
If the House believes that we are not members anymore than there is no need to hang a sword over our heads, he said.
A decision should be taken now as delaying this issue much longer is not in the interests of the House and democracy, he added.
MQM leader Asif Hasnain said that the prime minister’s words were being appreciated today and Parliament and democracy was also being lauded.
He said that these statements contradict the words of PTI leaders during the anti-government protest sit-in last year.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the issue was an important matter and that the House should not rush into taking a decision.
Accepting Dar’s suggestion, the Speaker deferred progress on the motions until Tuesday next week.
