ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday withdrew their motions regarding de-seating of 28 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members who were absent without leave of the assembly for 40 consecutive days.
Naeema Kishwar Khan of the JUI-F moved the withdrawal motion on behalf of his party while on behalf of MQM, Salman Khan Baloch moved the withdrawal motion.
“The majority never deprives the minority from its right of difference of opinion,” the JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman said while addressing the national assembly session today.
“When I reached home I was informed that PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari wanted to talk to me. I contacted him and apprised him of the details. He told me he was happy with the positive decision taken by our party,” he said.
Earlier, the Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed told media persons in Islamabad that the JUI-F Chief would present a new resolution in the National Assembly on Thursday on the issue of de-seating PTI.
The minister said that Maulana Fazalur Rehman agreed to this on the appeal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said that the JUI-F proved his broad-heartedness and political maturity.
Rasheed told that there were also in contact with friends in the MQM and expressed the hope that it would also give a positive response in the larger interest of democracy. He said that the government would take all political parties along on all issues.
On Wednesday, the prime minister while speaking in the National Assembly once again appealed to the JUI-F and the MQM to review their withdraw their motions regarding de-seating of 28 PTI members.
The JUI-F and the MQM had submitted two resolutions in the Lower House, seeking that the house declare seats of 28 PTI members who remained absent for 40 consecutive days.
Under clause (2) of Article 64 of the Constitution, a member may be declared de-seated if without leave of the house, he remains absent for 40 consecutive days of the assembly’s sittings.