The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on Article 63-A, which governs the disqualification of dissident party members, after several PTI lawmakers had indicated they may vote in favour of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that a decision had been made during a PTI political committee chaired by the prime minister to file a reference under Article 186 to request the Supreme Court's interpretation of Article 63.
Taking to Twitter, the information minister insinuated that dissenting MNAs had been paid for their votes, saying that the Supreme Court would decide whether the votes of such lawmakers could be disqualified.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1504740646753648643
The interpretation of Article 63-A has become a lynchpin in the opposition's vote of no-confidence against the prime minister.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said last week, that NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had the power to disqualify PTI lawmakers who side with the opposition during the vote of no confidence.
Similarly, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry echoed that the speaker will not count the votes of MNAs from the PTI who have crossed the aisle.
On Thursday, a reported 24 PTI MNAs decamped to Sindh House, citing security concerns and threats from the PTI, with MNA Raja Riaz announcing that the lawmakers would vote ‘according to their conscience’ during the vote of no-confidence session.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that a decision had been made during a PTI political committee chaired by the prime minister to file a reference under Article 186 to request the Supreme Court's interpretation of Article 63.
Taking to Twitter, the information minister insinuated that dissenting MNAs had been paid for their votes, saying that the Supreme Court would decide whether the votes of such lawmakers could be disqualified.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1504740646753648643
The interpretation of Article 63-A has become a lynchpin in the opposition's vote of no-confidence against the prime minister.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said last week, that NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had the power to disqualify PTI lawmakers who side with the opposition during the vote of no confidence.
Similarly, Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry echoed that the speaker will not count the votes of MNAs from the PTI who have crossed the aisle.
On Thursday, a reported 24 PTI MNAs decamped to Sindh House, citing security concerns and threats from the PTI, with MNA Raja Riaz announcing that the lawmakers would vote ‘according to their conscience’ during the vote of no-confidence session.