PA asks President to seek trust vote: 321 support resolution; 'Q' forward bloc backs move

LAHORE - As a warm-up exercise prior to moving impeachment motion against President Musharraf, the Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a resolution with overwhelming majority of 321 members which called upon the President to seek vote of confidence from his electoral college or resign in terms of Article 44 (3) of the Constitution.

Through the said resolution, the Punjab Assembly has also urged the Parliament to give notice for impeachment in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution if he (President Musharraf) fails to fulfill the demand.

The resolution further said that General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf was unfit to hold the office of the President by virtue of being guilty of violating the Constitution of Pakistan and/or of gross misconduct on account of subverting the Constitution twice by holding it in abeyance.

It also urged the Parliament to give notice of impeachment in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution if he (President Musharraf) fails to do the needful.

Out of 346 sitting members of Punjab Assembly, 321, including 37 members of the PML-Q forward bloc voted in favour of the resolution, while only 25 opposition members voted against it. The House echoed with the slogan of “Go Musharraf Go”, as the chair announced that the resolution has been passed with 321 votes in favour and only 25 against it.

To the surprise of many in the house, Zubia Rubab Malik of the PML-Q also voted in favour of the resolution though she is not a member of forward bloc of her party. Similarly, Moonis Elahi, son of former Punjab Chief Minister, did not caste his vote against the resolution, as he left the House minutes before start of the voting process.

Punjab Minister for Law, Rana Sanaulla read out the epoch-making resolution, and the Speaker opened the House to debate.