ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has urged the PML-N and PPP to move a no-trust motion against Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani if the two parties were really opposed to the passage of the resolution seeking to delay the general elections by the Senate.

A ‘quorum-less’ Senate had passed the resolution that landed in the House out of the blue, with Senate chairman fully facilitating it.

“Why would we support postponement of elections?” PTI Senator Saifullah Abro asked while answering a question during a Dawn News show ‘Doosra Rukh’.

He said the PML-N had not released any statement against the delayed polls, and only one of its senators had spoken on the issue in the Senate.

Former allies want PTI to initiate the move

On the other hand, Senator Abro said, the PPP had taken a stand. He said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was appearing on the media to assert that elections would take place on Feb 8. He also noted that Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan had submitted a fresh resolution, urging that polls should be conducted on time.

“So we will support elections taking place on Feb 8. We have been demanding for past one year that elections should take place,” Mr Abro said.

He said that if the PML-N and PPP thought that the resolution seeking delay in polls was “wrong”, then the parties should bring forward a no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman and “the PTI will support it”. He said Chairman Sanjrani hardly had “seven to eight votes”.

He noted that there were only two months remaining for the tenure of the current Senate. “The way he has disrespected the Senate […] at least two months can be saved […] If they [PML-N and PPP] have the guts, then bring a motion against him.”

N, PPP want PTI to initiate move

PML-N leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui, when contacted, said instead of giving advices through TV channels the PTI should take practical steps. He said the PTI should draft a no-trust motion and discuss with other political parties, explaining the reasons for the move around two months ahead of the expiry of Sanjrani’s term. He said once the PTI came up with a proposal, the PML-N would take a decision.

However, a PPP leader, when contacted, suggested that the PTI move a no-confidence motion and said the PPP would support it.

The PPP leader said an action against its senator who supported the resolution even before it was moved in the House had already been taken. “The PPP wants elections as per the schedule,” he remarked.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2024