Latest news with #26thConstitutionalAmendmentBill
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI banishes five MNAs from party
Listen to article The opposition, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Sunday expelled five members of the National Assembly for going against the party line during the vote on the 26th Constitutional Amendment in the National Assembly in October last month. According to separate notifications issued by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the expelled members are Aurangzeb Khichi, Zahoor Hussain Qureshi, Usman Ali, Mubarak Zeb and Ilyas Chaudhry. These independent lawmakers were supported by the PTI in the 2024 general elections. The similarly-worded notifications stated that these lawmakers violated the party instructions and voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill on October 21, 2024, while the party in a meeting had unanimously decided to oppose the amendment. "You are hereby declared to have violated your commitment, oath and loyalty to the Party. You have acted contrary to the instructions of the Party as you voted in favor of 26th Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2024," said one of five notifications, sent to Qureshi. "And by [that] conduct [you] have joined another Parliamentary Party in the National Assembly. You are therefore expelled from the Party (PTI) forthwith. Needless to add that you also stand disqualified on account of the aforesaid conduct," it added. The 26th Amendment was passed with a two-thirds majority. Among the opposition parties, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) had supported the government after several rounds of negotiations. The PTI however, chose to oppose the bill. Yet the government was able to get five members on its side. Soon after the bill was passed, the PTI decided to take legal action against its lawmakers who had violated the party policy. At that time, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said that these lawmakers had been elected as independents; therefore, they were not bound by any party decision. The PTI's notifications on Sunday said that notices were issued to the dissenting National Assembly members on November 5, 2024 to show cause why they "should not be declared to have defected" from the party, but "you did not respond to the notice". The notifications also stated that these members deserved of disqualification from being elected representatives for joining another party. The PTI chairman demanded of the National Assembly speaker to disqualify that these members. Among the expelled members Khichi was elected to the National Assembly from NA-159 Vehari-IV; Qureshi from NA-146 Khanewal-III; Usman Ali from NA.142, Sahiwal-II; Muhammad Ilyas Choudhry from NA.62, Gujrat-I and Mubarak Zeb from NA.8, Bajaur.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI expels five MNAs for backing 26th amendment, seeks disqualification
Listen to article The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday formally expelled five of its National Assembly members for defying party directions and voting in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment — a move the party termed a 'flagrant breach of oath, loyalty, and parliamentary discipline.' The expulsions were confirmed through formal notifications issued by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. The lawmakers — Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Zahoor Elahi, Usman Ali, Mubarak Zeb, and Muhammad Ilyas Chaudhry — were elected on PTI tickets and, according to the party, had pledged to uphold its parliamentary stance. An official PTI statement said the party's parliamentary meeting on September 2, 2024, had unanimously decided to oppose the 26th Amendment at all stages. These instructions were submitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly on September 5 for record. However, on October 21, the five lawmakers voted in favour of the bill, enabling the government to pass it with 225 votes — just one above the required 224. Following the vote, PTI issued show-cause notices to the MNAs on November 5, asking why they should not be disqualified for defection and breach of party discipline under Articles 62 and 63. A hearing committee was formed but none of the lawmakers responded or appeared. The party further alleged that the MNAs had joined another parliamentary party by taking seats on the treasury benches and attending its meetings, which it says constitutes formal defection under constitutional provisions. Read More: Gandapur says Imran Khan ready for talks with decision-makers 'You are hereby declared to have violated your commitment, oath, and loyalty to the party,' the notification read. 'You voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2024, and by conduct have joined another parliamentary party. You are therefore expelled from the party forthwith.' The PTI leadership has also requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to initiate proceedings for the disqualification of the five MNAs under Article 63A of the Constitution. The five MNAs had voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which enabled the government to secure 225 votes — one above the 224 required for passage. The 26th Amendment introduced significant changes to Pakistan's judicial structure, including revisions to the process of judicial appointments, the tenure of the Chief Justice, and the composition of the Judicial Commission.
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'PTI to move reference against four MNAs'
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to file a reference against four National Assembly members (MNAs) who defected to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after being elected with PTI's support. According to PTI leader Asad Qaiser, the party has finalised its plan to take action against these lawmakers for deviating from the party policy during the voting on the 26th Constitutional Amendment. The reference will be sent to the National Assembly speaker and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Last year, the four PTI-backed independent members, including Usman Ali, Aurangzeb Khichi, Mubarak Zeb and Zahoor Qureshi voted in favour of the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the National Assembly. The move helped the government clinch 225 votes, surpassing the required 224. The 26th Amendment significantly altered the country's judicial system, including provisions for judicial appointments, the chief justice's tenure and the composition of the judicial commission. "These members won their seats on PTI tickets and have now joined the PML-N. We have asked the party to send a disqualification reference to the Speaker and the ECP. Let's see what action they take," Qaiser said. Earlier, Qaiser had said the PTI-backed independent candidates, who supported the contentious constitutional amendment, betrayed the party and its founder, Imran Khan. "Those who voted [in favour of the bill] have committed treachery against the party and its founder," Qaiser said.
