ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is set to begin the process of verification of the resignations of 131 members belonging to the formerly ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Awami Muslim League (AML) from June 6 as the NA Secretariat on Monday sent notices to the lawmakers, asking them to appear in person before the speaker to testify that they had submitted their resignations voluntarily and not under duress.
According to a spokesman for the NA Secretariat, the speaker had decided to meet 30 MNAs to complete the process by June 10 — the day the new coalition government is set to present the budget for the next fiscal year. The speaker has allocated five minutes for each member.
The speaker is beginning the process after nearly two months and at a time when there are reports in some political and media circles that the PTI was reconsidering its decision to quit the assembly.
The notices have been issued to the members in pursuance of Rule 43-2(b) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007 which states that “if the speaker receives the letter of resignation by any other means and he, after such inquiry as he thinks fit, either himself or through the NA Secretariat or through any other agency, is satisfied that the resignation is voluntary and genuine, the speaker shall inform the Assembly of the resignation”.
