No-confidence motion: PM Imran Khan directs NA speaker to move ECP against PTI dissidents

• PM Imran Khan asks NA speaker to take legal action against dissidents.
• PM's directives come during party spokespersons' meeting.
• ECP clarifies it cannot take action unless directed by the NA speaker.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to move the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for legal action and de-notification of the PTI’s dissidents, The News reported.

The directives came during a meeting of party spokespersons Thursday, with the prime minister in the chair, according to the publication, as the political temperature in the country rises after several ruling party members publicly announced to vote as per their conscience on the no-trust motion against the premier.

PM Imran Khan also asked the NA speaker to initiate legal action against the dissident MNAs of the party after it emerged that around 24 members were staying at the Sindh House — a move that plunged the country into political chaos.

Read more: Pakistan's political crisis deepens further as '24 PTI MNAs seek refuge in Sindh House'

The PTI members are residing at the Sindh House ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion, claiming they are "fearful" for their lives if they vote against the premier.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Industries and Production Minister Khusro Bakhtyar, Leader of the House for the Senate Shahzad Waseem, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz, state minister Farrukh Habib, SAPM on Political Affairs Amir Dogar attended the meeting held at the PM House.

The meeting discussed legal action against the disgruntled parliamentarians in detail, per the publication.

The prime minister told the participants that it was "clearly" written in the Constitution that a parliamentarian could be de-notified through the legal process for violating the party policy.

Read more: Govt confirms contact with Opposition MNAs, rules out blackmail amid no-confidence motion

The PM said he would continue fighting till the last ball and would not spare any dissident. He said that huge money from Sindh was being used to purchase loyalties of the PTI MNAs.

He said how come three woman MNAs, elected on reserved seats, could go against the party policy, adding he would not come under pressure through the Opposition's blackmailing and asked the meeting participants to remain relaxed, and on March 28, all would come to know that the no-confidence had failed.

ECP to take decision on speaker's directives

Separately, in a statement, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that it is empowered to take action only after receiving a declaration from the NA speaker about the members voting against party policy or crossing the floor, The News reported.

According to the Constitution, the ECP said, it has nothing to do with the election of the prime minister and the no-confidence motion as it is governed by the rules of the lower house.

Against the backdrop of queries being directed at the electoral body in recent days, the ECP came up with its version and said it is being criticised by senior government officials at various forums with reference to the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.

The ECP said since the electoral body was being repeatedly mentioned on national television, it had become necessary for it to clarify its constitutional and legal responsibility.

Read more: Actress Reema Khan heaps praise on PM Imran Khan

The ECP explained that the NA speaker acts as the presiding officer in the election of the prime minister and the no-confidence motion, adding that the statements against the ECP regarding horse-trading and floor crossing are baseless.

The statement added that in case of floor crossing, the party chief would send a declaration against the member concerned to the speaker and then the speaker would send the declaration to the Election Commission.

It pointed out that the ECP will take action on the declaration in accordance with the Constitution and law.

The ECP suggested that the government may, if it so desires, amend the law to empower the ECP in this regard.