ISLAMABAD - The sudden announcement of en-bloc resignations by the PTI MNAs, except for its dissident members, is believed to create a political chaos in and outside the parliament.
It was largely assumed that former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former opposition leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif would swap role if the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan succeeds. But, the former ruling party [PTI] preferred to boycott the election of the leader of the house and tender resignations.
The resignations of 140 PTI members from the lower house of the parliament have created confusion that how the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would be able to organise by-elections at this large scale level. Besides, the absence of main opposition to criticise the wrongdoing of the newly formed government led by PML-N in the Parliament has also become a question mark.
At the day of the voting election for leader of the house in the parliament [Prime Minister], after the boycott of PTI’s MNAs, only members of the smaller party Grand Democratic Alliance [GDA] were sitting in the National Assembly hall. Of five members of PML-Q, two members Chaudhry Salik and Tariq Bashir Cheema were favouring the newly formed alliance, recently took the rein in the Centre.
The PTI’s decision to tender resignations from the National Assembly has seemingly made it easy for the incumbent government to easily pass legislation in the house.
This decision of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, accepted by the majority of the party member, made it difficult for the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) to PML-Q to evolve consensus over the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
“It will be difficult for the opposition parties to develop consensus over leader of the opposition. Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) and GDA have to discuss this matter,” said GDA MNA Ghous Bux Mahar, talking to The Nation.
About his party's stance to effectively perform opposition in the National Assembly, he said they would discuss it with the party’s supremo Pir Pagara sb. “Final decision would be taken on the directions of Pir Pagara sb,” he said, mentioning that Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) is a comparatively big party but their two members had shown tilt to support the ruling clique led by PML-N. When contacted, PML-Q’s spokesman Kamil Ali Agha said this would be very important to develop consensus over suitable members from the opposition for the important slot. “Currently, we are focused on Punjab, this matter would be discussed in the party later,” he said. Political pundits viewed the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly is an important slot. “It may be the shortest opposition in the centre if the PTI’s dissidents prefer to sit on the government benches,” they said, mentioning that PTIs parliamentarians can also emerge as a group in the National Assembly in the future.