Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to rescind their decisions and withdraw motions that the two parties have placed before the House for de-seating 28 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislators. The Prime Minister expressed these views while addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday.
"We want to resolve this issue honestly and sincerely. We have taken a decision after thorough consultations within the party that we will not vote in the favour of motions. Every political party is in the House as people voted for them hence all the political parties should play their role for people's welfare," he said.
The Prime Minister said he had appealed to JUI-F and MQM members during the parliamentary leaders' meeting to withdraw their motions. "We also formed a committee to talk with the MQM and JUI-F but the issue could not be resolved according to our aspirations. I requested the MQM and JUI-F to show open heartedness and withdraw their motions for strengthening democracy. Hence MQM and JUI-F should demonstrate open heartedness to end the uncertainty," he added.
The Prime Minister regretted Tuesday's remarks of PTI Chairman Imran Khan about Maulana Fazlur Rehman and said that "it did not only the Maulana's feelings but mine too. We should avoid making such remarks. The whole nation knows what parliament is going to decide, which will become part of history. Referring to Supreme Court's verdict on 18th and 21st Constitutional Amendments, the Prime Minister said the apex court has validated these constitutional amendments and termed military courts legal. He said the historic verdict of the Supreme Court will have a positive impact on the country's future.
He said the verdict established supremacy of the Parliament. He said that all the parliamentary parties had reservations about military courts but the step was imperative to purge the country of terrorists. The decision would strengthen the war against terrorism and discourage terrorists, he said. The Prime Minister said the government has taken decisions on important national issues including the operation Zarb-e-Azb, National Action Plan, Constitutional Amendments and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as well as matters related to foreign affairs.
About floods in the country, the Prime Minister said the federal and provincial governments and other institutions are carrying out relief operations in an effective manner. He said military in co-operation with other agencies is working hard to provide relief to the flood affectees.
Later, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said that his party welcomes the Prime Minister's decisions against anti-PTI motions. He said, "Imran Khan has no future strategy. We should try to bring PTI into the Parliament," he added. "Gone are the days when we used to pull each other's legs," he said adding that strengthening of system is a good sign for the country. He also urged the JUI-F and MQM to welcome the PTI members to the House.
The opposition Leader said the Supreme Court decision on applications against 18th and the 21st constitutional amendments was a stamp of approval on the decisions taken by the parliament.
MQM leader Abdul Rashid Godail said that his party always respected the Constitution but the situation his party workers were facing is against the spirit of democracy. "We are being targeted but no one is listening to us. FIRs have been lodged against me and my colleagues to mentally pressurize us. As many as 40 party workers were made victims of extra judicial killing and hundreds were kidnapped," he said. "Are all the perks and privileges for those who abuse and degrade the Parliament?" He questioned. The MQM leader requested the prime minister and the leader of opposition to intervene as hundreds of MQM workers have gone missing in Karachi.
"Any committee formed by the government to resolve the de-seating issue has not contacted us so far," he added.
Speaking on the motions, Mualana Fazlur Rehman said that "tolerance is a better word but individual forgiveness could be accepted, we cannot forgive those who betrayed the whole nation and termed the parliament as redundant. If I have used these words to degrade the parliament then nobody has forgiven me."
"The Whole nation knows that PTI members have tendered resignations but one person who does not know this fact is the Speaker of the National Assembly. Our resignations were accepted instantly in the past. Yesterday [Tuesday], he [Imran] challenged that their resignations should be accepted. They are seeking charity by using bad language and sorting to terrorism," he said.
"We supported the government by putting our lives at risk during the sit-in of PTI. In future we will stand by the government but it should also listen to our request. The Prime Minister should invite us to his house or secretariat or in his chamber or at D-Chock," he said. While referring to the Supreme Court's decision, the Maulana said that the apex court accepted the supremacy of the Parliament.
He said that his party has reservations on the legislation of the 21st constitutional amendment. There is a discrimination in the law and the Prime Minister should seek to further amend it, he said.