August 09, 2006	Wednesday	Rajab 13, 1427

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PESHAWAR, Aug 8: Five MPAs of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Tuesday met the NWFP assembly speaker in connection with the controversial resignations submitted on their behalf by the ruling alliance.

It is learnt that the MPAs made a request in writing to Speaker Bukht Jehan Khan that all relevant documents, including their purported resignations, be provided to them after which they would file written replies to the notices issued to them.

The MPAs requested the speaker to open the entire inquiry proceedings to media so as to maintain transparency.

The membership of these MPAs was restored by the Peshawar High Court on July 18 on their writ petitions.

The court had ruled that the impugned resignations should be deemed to have been pending before the speaker who should hold an inquiry regarding their genuineness before taking a decision.

Following the court orders, the speaker issued notices asking them to appear on Tuesday in connection with the inquiry. The five MPAs — Raja Faisal Zaman (who is also a provincial minister), Malik Hayat, Maulana Dildar Ahmad, Gorsaran Lal and Ms Rukhsana Raz — met the speaker whereas the sixth member, Ms Yasmeen Khalid could not turn up. The speaker has now asked Ms Khalid to appear on Aug 15.

On Wednesday, the speaker will meet members of the inquiry committee of the MMA which had recommended expulsions of the MPAs from their respective parties and forwarded their resignations to the speaker.

They were expelled from their respective parties, Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) on charges of violating party discipline during the senate polls.

One of the MPAs confided to Dawn that they did not have confidence in the speaker as he was a party to the entire issue and also the main respondent in their writ petitions.

He said they demanded of the speaker to include media in the inquiry so that the proceedings were transparent.

“How could we expect impartiality from the speaker when, to date, he had not shown us the controversial resignations,” he said, adding that in case the resignations were again accepted, they would again move the high court.

Meanwhile, the speaker, while talking to journalists, said that he was custodian of the house and would decide the matter impartially and in a judicious manner. He said he was not under pressure from the government to accept the resignations.