ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Thursday accepted former law minister Babar Awan’s resignation from his Senate seat after he appeared in the chairman’s chamber to verify his notice to quit.

Earlier, the Senate chairman had issued a notice to the former Pakistan Peoples Party senator to appear in his chamber in person to ascertain whether the resignation submitted by him was genuine and voluntary.

Mr Awan, therefore, appeared before the Senate chairman and verified the resignation letter, which was then accepted.

Mr Awan, who was elected senator on a PPP ticket in March 2012, had submitted his resignation from the membership of the upper house of parliament on June 30, a week after joining the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Under the rules, it is essential for the Senate chairman to inquire that the resignation is both authentic and intentional.

Mr Awan decided to vacate his seat in the Senate about eight months before the expiry of his five-year term as senator, which is going to expire on March 11 next year.

He was required to cede his seat and sever all relations with the PPP as under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the defection clause does not allow any parliamentarian to retain his position in the previous political party, if he joins any other party.

Mr Awan announced his decision to join the PTI at an Iftar dinner in June, which was hosted at his residence for the party leaders, including PTI chief Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2017