Govt, opposition forms committee on Punjab MPAs disqualification

LAHORE: Following the MPAs’ disqualification references filed in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), A possible solution is on cards as both the government and the opposition held talks to diffuse the situation.

The negotiation, if successful, might lead the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly to withdraw the references against the 26 MPAs of the opposition.

The government side will be led by Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman and would comprise Salman Rafique, Rana Arshad, Samiullah, Ahmed Iqbal, Ali Haider Gilani, Shafay Hussain, and Shoaib Siddiqui. Meanwhile, the opposition committee would include Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, Ali Imtiaz, Sheikh Imtiaz, and Ejaz Shafi.

Earlier, disqualification references against Members Punjab Assembly (MPAs) have been filed by the Speaker Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Khan, in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday.

The references were filed amid the opposition protest in the assembly, allegedly causing disruption and damaging property

Following this, the Speaker suspended the 26 MPAs of the opposition party for 15 sittings of the assembly.

Later on, the Speaker announced his decision to refer the matter to the ECP for the disqualification of the suspended members.

In this regard, the speaker has arrived at the ECP office to formally file the references, which include the evidence of the disorderly actions.

The references point to the 26 MPs’ violations of assembly etiquette and constitutional standards as justification for terminating their membership. It is anticipated that the ECP would examine the references and render a decision about the MPs’ destiny in compliance with the law.