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NA defers motion to de-seat PTI MNAs

The chair postponed the resolutions, Finance Ishaq Dar said on the issue that government wants to resolve the issue with consensus. If the House believes that we are not members anymore than there is no need to hang a sword over our heads, he said.

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Opening the debate, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah welcomed the fact that both the PTI and PML-N had accepted the commission’s findings.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Thursday talked on phone and resolved not to withdraw parliamentary motion against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dunya News reported.

Mr Siddiqui said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had demonstrated large-heartedness and in the larger national interest wanted to see the PTI members playing their role in parliament despite the fact that he and the PML-N were the main target of Imran Khan’s criticism and speeches made from atop the container during the sit-in.

The PTI had announced to boycott the Parliament in August last year to protest against alleged massive rigging in the 2013 general elections.

The motion was moved by Muhammad Salman Khan Baloch of MQM and Ms Naeema Kishwar Khan of JUI-F.

MQM leader Rashid Godail said that PTI should leave the Parliament as they had resigned from the National Assembly seats and come again if they are mandated by the people.

According to Assembly rules, a member who does not attend Assembly session continuously for 40 days stands disqualified as member of the House.

Earlier, the resolution was momentarily deferred upon the request of Shah who wished to discuss the issue with the finance minister.

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“The government is acting positively on the issue and wants to resolve it with a positive mind-set”, Dar told parliamentarians. He said these projects include Tarbela-IV Extension and Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project. Replying to a calling attention notice moved by Maulana Muhammad Gohar Shah and others regarding non-replacement of the out of order and overloaded transformers in District Charsadda, Mardan and Lakki Marwat, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali told the House that 382 transformers have been replaced in these districts for smooth supply of electricity. The House will now meet today (WEdnesday) at 10:30 a.m.

PPP advises the PML-N to vote in favour of keeping the PTI in the house to end the ongoing political uncertainty.—AFP  File