Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the country's main opposition party, issued show-cause notices to lawmakers who voted in favor of constitutional amendments that have created deep fissures in the national political landscape.
The notices were issued to Miqdad Ali Khan, Riaz Fatiana, Zain Qureshi and Aslam Ghuman.
The lawmakers were accused of "executing an assault on the independence of the judiciary by introducing the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill."
A copy of show cause notice issued to PTI lawmaker for violating party policy on judicial amendmentPTI
Accusing the state of harassment, PTI said it had given very specific instructions to its lawmakers to avoid being forced to vote in favor of the amendment.
"Every MNA (member of National Assembly) and Senator was directed to remain safe, secure and at a designated location and not to be in touch with anyone for or on behalf of the government for the purpose of the 26th constitutional amendment.
"These instructions were issued to every MNA and Senator in order to avoid, not only harassment but also to be in touch with the party or its authorized representative for further instructions in the aforesaid matter," according to the notice a copy of which is available with Nukta.
The lawmakers have been asked to explain their behavior in seven days or risk expulsion from the party.
Membership cancellations
Meanwhile, PTI has also initiated the process of canceling the membership of Senators Zarqa Suhrawardy and Faisal Saleem, along with other members who voted in favor of the 26th constitutional amendment.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan will send a formal reference to the Chairman of the Senate and the Speaker of the National Assembly in this regard.
In an exclusive conversation with Nukta, PTI Additional Secretary Firdous Shamim Naqvi stated that four PTI members in the National Assembly have already been issued show-cause notices, while others who voted for the amendment have had their membership revoked.
He explained that show-cause notices were issued to members who failed to adhere to party directives, but dismissal proceedings have been initiated against those who voted in favor of the amendment.
The National Assembly members facing action include Zahoor Qureshi, Usman Ali, Chaudhry Ilyas, Aurangzeb Khan Khachi, and Mubarak Zeb.
Naqvi further clarified that, according to Supreme Court orders, all independent members or those representing the Sunni Ittehad Council in parliament are now considered PTI members after submitting declarations.
Taking to X, Zain Qureshi said that stated that he had been, was, and would remain faithful to his party, his leader Imran Khan, and his father Shah Mehmood Qureshi, along with everything his father stood for.
“I did not go to Parliament and categorically denied my vote at every turn, in every circumstance and under every kind of pressure,” he added.
In a first, lawmakers choose next chief justice
In a first, a 12-member parliamentary committee selected on Tuesday Yahya Afridi as the next chief justice of Pakistan.
Before this, the judiciary had an internal system of appointing the senior most justice as the chief justice.
Despite representation in the committee, the PTI, whose founder ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan is in jail, has strongly objected to the constitutional amendment, saying it will undermine the judiciary's independence.
Secret arrival of PTI lawmakers
PTI previously accused the government of abducting 11 lawmakers to coerce them into voting "yes."
The amendment was swiftly passed by the federal cabinet, National Assembly, and Senate within 24 hours on Monday, a move that left many observers puzzled.
Marathon sessions of the National Assembly and Senate were held over the weekend. The National Assembly convened late Sunday night and adjourned in the early hours of Monday.
Prior to passing the amendment, long meetings often extending post midnight were held between the ruling party, its coalition and opposition figures.
On the day of the vote, three PTI-backed members were escorted into the National Assembly under tight security, while three others were stationed in the government gallery as “backups”.
Sources within the assembly revealed to Nukta that several independent lawmakers, whose votes were crucial for passing the amendment, were brought into the parliament hours before the session began.
The movement of these lawmakers was carefully controlled, with routes restricted from the Speaker’s chamber on the fourth floor to the government lobby, keeping their presence concealed from the media.
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