Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday termed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict on a reference against disgruntled party MNA Ayesha Gulalai a severe blow to Article 63-A of the constitution. The ECP rejected the PTI reference against Gulalai with 3-2 decision, which the PTI central information secretary, Shafqat Mehmood said is a challenge to the neutrality and constitutional role of the commission.
He said that ECP's decision is tantamount in destabilizing parliamentary democracy in Pakistan, adding the decision shows that constitutional ascendance and eminence comes after personal preferences. Article 63-A of the constitution, Mehmood maintained, doesn't permit member parliament to cling to the party seat after violating party's policy. This article of the constitution decrees to de-notify the member who breaches party policy in the election of PM in the house, he added.
He said that the woman MNA had said on record on more than one occasions that she quit the party, which was enough to disqualify her NA membership, but through its verdict the ECP proved how impartial it is. "The woman MNA also transgressed party's policy during the election of PM in the lower house; what else the ECP needed to prove her guilty as she clearly violated the party discipline", he questioned.
He went on adding that today's decision will endanger parliamentary democracy and it will have deep and excruciating impacts on the political milieu, adding PTI is considering and reviewing all aspects of the decision and will decide future course of action shortly.
PTI chief whip in NA Shireen Mazari stated that constitution clearly stats that an MNA who votes against party decision on finance bill or election of Prime Minister loses his/her seat but ECP gives verdict against this brazenly showing its bias. "The ECP has given an unconstitutional verdict as constitution and ECP's decision shows the extreme bias of chief election commissioner," she added.
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