Islamabad, 11th March 2022: Parliamentary Leader of the PPP in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman said, “The Prime Minister needs to take a long hard look at the cronies that he surrounds himself with, as well as his sycophantic legal team which is misleading him due to their expedient but incorrect interpretation of the Constitution. It needs to be categorically clarified to both the government and the people that the constitution does not give the speaker the power to disqualify a member before voting. No one can stop a member from coming to parliament either. The Speaker can neither prevent members from voting nor can he disqualify them before the voting. A Member of Parliament can be disqualified by the Election Commission at the request of the party head, which is a process that takes 30 days. However, the Speaker does not hold the authority to do so, as per the constitution. This is another desperate, thinly veiled tactic by the government to create a constitutional crisis within the country, rather than addressing the issue at hand: the nation’s complete lack of faith in the PM.”
She said, “In another unprecedented move, the government has announced that its lawmakers will not be attending the no-confidence vote. The government is also trying everything in its power to delay voting, which will only lead to more chaos in the country and could seriously endanger the lives of the parliamentarians on both sides. The question remains: why is it that the government that constantly flaunts its artificial majority is now utterly terrified of allowing the vote of no-confidence to be carried out? The government’s tactics have become an embarrassing descent into chaotic decisions. Imran Khan seems to be in meltdown, given the language he is using and steps they are taking.”
The Senator added, “The events that transpired last night in the Parliamentary lodges have generated shockwaves throughout the country. From Karachi to Khyber, the country watched the violent raid in the lodges in shock which crossed all red lines and surpassed even the most dictatorial regimes in this country’s history. Raiding the lodges in such a manner was a grotesque display of power by the authority and a message to the nation of the draconian state our country can become if the government is faced with resistance. Reports state that 19 people, including MNAs, were arrested just before the vote of no-confidence; the government is using everything but the kitchen sink at what will ultimately be a futile attempt at conserving their legitimacy.”
She concluded by saying, “Tabahi Sarkar’s panic and anxiety is palpable after Chairman Bilawal’s massive Awami March and the submission of the motion of no-confidence has culminated in utterly deplorable behaviour on its part. This is an important moment in Pakistan’s history and posterity will not be kind to those who trample on the constitution. There is no tolerance or space for that anymore in Pakistan. The moral integrity and legitimacy of this government was lost years ago but now their legal legitimacy also hangs on by a thread.”
