ISLAMABAD: The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz issued on Saturday a show-cause notice to one of its members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly on charge of violating party policy on Senate elections.

“The ruling PML-N has served a show-cause notice on Wajeehuz Zaman, its member of provincial assembly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for his blatant defiance of the party lines over the upcoming Senate elections,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said. The statement said the 49-year-old MPA had stated categorically during an interview with an English daily that he would not vote for the PML-N candidates in the Senate elections.

“From the published (newspaper) statement it was revealed that Mr Zaman had committed serious violation of party discipline which amounted to defection from party and violation of party’s constitution as well as the Constitution of Pakistan and relevant laws,” said the statement.

Mr Zaman was elected from Mansehra on a PML-N ticket in the 2013 elections.

The show-cause notice was issued by Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, the PML-N’s secretary general.

The notice served on Mr Zaman read: “You are hereby called upon to show cause as to why a stern disciplinary action should not be taken against you which may result in invoking defection clause.

“You are also called upon to show cause as to why a reference may not be made against you for de-seating from KP assembly.”

The notice also asked the MPA to explain why he should not be expelled from the PML-N forthwith.

In his notice, Mr Jhagra directed Mr Zaman to submit his reply within two days and said: “In case of failure to respond, it would be deemed as if he had nothing to offer in his defence.”

In case of failure to respond ex-party action would be taken against Mr Zaman, added the notice. In his newspaper interview, Mr Zaman had said he would not vote for the party candidates if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not release funds for development work in his native Mansehra district.

The MPA had maintained that he had made up his mind as he and other PML-N legislators had been neglected by the party leadership.

Mr Zaman is the son of former senator Fauzia Fakharuz Zaman, who is contesting the elections as an independent candidate. He had proposed the candidature of another independent candidate, Waqar Ahmed Khan, for the Senate elections.

Despite repeated attempts, Mr Zaman could not be reached for his comments.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2015

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