Imran Khan and PTI's next moves after being ousted from government

[MenInG]

In the final moments of former prime minister Imran Khan's government, his team members paid tribute to him, vowing to fight along with him "for as long as it takes".

"Just saw off Prime Minister Imran Khan from Prime Minister House. He walked out gracefully and didn't bow down," Senator Faisal Javed Khan wrote on his Twitter handle.

He said that Imran Khan has lifted the entire nation. "Feeling proud to be a Pakistani and blessed to have a leader like him. Pakistan Khan - Imran Khan."

Former finance and health minister Taimur Khan Jhagra said that losing the battle is insignificant. "Winning the war for Pakistan that we desire is what matters. That fight will go on as long as it takes. Insha'Allah."

"In last more than 3 years I have seen Imran Khan work tirelessly for the betterment of the country," said Asad Umar, the former planning minister.

He said that Imran Khan's only objective was to make Pakistan stronger and improve the lives of the people of Pakistan. "May Allah give you more strength to serve the nation skipper #ProudOfImranKhan."

Former energy minister Hammad Azhar said that on the call of "brave" leader Imran Khan, a peaceful protest will be held across Pakistan after Isha prayer.

Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry termed today a sad day for Pakistan, saying that the "looters" will return and a good man was sent home.

Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari said that today is a "sad day for the democracy when the US regime succeeds aided and abetted by a corrupt political mafia and their domestic string-pullers plus a judicial coup which has destroyed parliamentary supremacy".

"So our deep seated subservience to [the] US will continue. Shameful!," she added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2351819/fight-will-go-on-ex-pm-imrans-team-vows-to-continue-struggle

 

[JimmyGetsBuckets]

InshaAllah he comes back stronger than ever.

 

[Kianig89]

Now it's Balla vs rest of Pakistan PDM politics only get damage from this regime change unless they conjure some miracle like massive decrease in food items etc

 

[Manunited18]

Now it's Balla vs rest of Pakistan PDM politics only get damage from this regime change unless they conjure some miracle like massive decrease in food items etc

PDM will have to weigh up to either Loot Maar (fill their pockets) or bring relief to the Awaam with rocketing inflation. Now their narrative will change to inflation is a global issue which they refused to accept when imran was in power.

 

[MenInG]

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA of the Jahangir Khan Tareen group, Malik Nouman Ahmad Langrial, has expressed his willingness to contest the by-polls after Punjab chief minister's election on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) ticket.

Langrial told The Express Tribune that the hospitality shown by the PML-N was more than what they had expected, adding that they would be happy to contest on their ticket if it was offered to them. He said that they had not joined the PML-N for any incentive. “We just want to save the country from the wrath of the PTI.”

He added that corruption during the PTI rule was at an all-time high. “In addition to corruption, there was incompetence.”

The lawmaker said that the PTI has no political future. A party, which after coming to power abandoned those who had given their blood and sweat for it and relied on “parachuters”, was bound to fail, he added.

He said that the PTI lacked vision and its leadership the ability to trust. “We are ready to go back to our constituents if the PTI gets us de-seated.”

Another defecting MPA of the ruling party, Muhammad Salman, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that there was a legal barrier, and to his understanding that would not allow the PTI to de-seat them.

Read PML-N considers PTI rebels as ‘true warriors’

He said that if over a certain number of parliamentarians decided to form a bloc, it would be a forward bloc, and hence won’t be termed defection. Secondly, he added, for the PTI to de-seat them, it “will have to prove that we disobeyed the parliamentary leader’s instructions, which we don’t have at the moment”.

However, a senior lawyer Abdullah Malik said that no such provision (forward bloc) exists after the implementation of the 18th Amendment.

He said that Usman Buzdar is no longer the PTI’s Punjab parliamentary leader. However, he added, even if the PTI had them de-seated, they would contest the elections on the PML-N ticket.

When asked if the PML-N had agreed to give all defecting MPAs a ticket, Salman said that there may be issues on two to three seats, but a majority of the defecting MPAs would get the PML-N ticket.

He said that at the moment, the PML-N has the support of 14 PTI MPAs from the Jahangir Khan Tareen group, five PTI MPAs from the Aleem Khan group, three from the Khokhar group and eight other PTI MPAs who assured of their support for the PML-N.

Langrial and Salman are among over two dozen defecting MPAs, who have assured of their support for PML-N candidate Hamza Shehbaz for the Punjab chief minister’s slot. The support paves the way for Hamza, without which they do not have enough votes to cross the magic number of 186.

At present, the PML-N has 165 members of its own, of which two have defected from the party, bringing the number down to 163, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has a total of seven votes, independent MPAs five and Pakistan Rah-e-Haq party has one vote of, which puts the total tally at 176, requiring at least 12 more votes from the PTI.

If the PTI moves to de-seat all dissenting members it will bring down its total strength to around 150. Even with the support of the PML-Q, they would lack the numbers to get a no-confidence motion passed from the assembly.

Further, 20(3) of the Rules and Procedures of Punjab Assembly 1997, states that even during the election for leader of the house, if no candidate secures a majority of the house, a round of poll would be held wherein a candidate that secures the most amount of majority votes of the members present in the house would be elected as CM, meaning that majority of present members’ support is enough for chief ministership.

However, MPA Ghazanfar Abbas Chheena said that his group stands by the PTI’s nominee – PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi – for the Punjab CM’s slot, denying media reports that his group was considering to support PML-N leader Hamza during the elections.

Chheena said that his group did not take decisions based on the party's popularity graph. “Unlike others, the Chheena Group will stand by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf till the last day of the incumbent provincial assembly.”

He also clarified that his group’s name was not Chheena Group, the name actually “is Supremacy of Parliament Group”. “All of our 14 members are intact.”

He said that he too would like to advise Prime Minister Imran to resign and sit on opposition benches, adding that what magic could the PML-N do while in government with only a year remaining.

“Let them have it their way, and let them bear the consequences of their own mistakes,” he added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2351837/pti-dissidents-ready-to-contest-polls-on-pml-n-ticket

 

[MenInG]

PTI Chairman Imran Khan will preside over a meeting of his party's core committee today to chalk out the party's future strategy after being de-seated as the PM of Pakistan.

Taking to Twitter, Senator Faisal Javed Khan said, "Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan will chair the core committee meeting of the party today insha'ALLAH."

"Imran Khan will announce the future course of action." The PTI leader ended his tweet with a slogan of 'Pakistan Zindabad' [Long Live Pakistan].

GEO

 

[Rana]

How does he plan on coming back in a year’s time? I thought many of his key players/strategists have all abandoned him

 

[MenInG]

Senior PTI leader and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry has announced that his party would resign from the National Assembly tomorrow (Monday) if the party's reservations regarding PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif's nomination as the prime minister are not addressed.

The announcement comes a day after Imran Khan lost his government via a successful no-confidence move in the National Assembly.

Talking to the media in Islamabad with a host of other PTI leaders and officials, Chaudhry said a meeting of the PTI's central core executive committee (CEC) was held in Bani Gala with Imran Khan where the whole situation was analysed.

He said the CEC recommended to Khan that the PTI should resign from the assemblies starting with the National Assembly. "If our objections on Shehbaz Sharif's [nomination] papers are not addressed then we will resign tomorrow," he said.

Elaborating on the PTI's decision to nominate its Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the prime minister's position after a successful vote of no-confidence against Khan, Chaudhry said that contesting the election offered the party a way to challenge Shehbaz's nomination papers.

He said it was a "great injustice" that Shehbaz would be contesting the election for the prime minister on the same day he is to be indicted in a money laundering case.

"What can be more insulting for Pakistan that a foreign selected and foreign imported government is imposed on it and a person like Shehbaz is made its head," he rued.

DAWN

 

[Kianig89]

First and foremost IK should have a deep analysis of his team again immature suggestion by lotas like Fawad Ch and Sh Rasheed to resign from NA, his advisors should be the core PTI group like Ali MUHAMMAD Khan Asad Qaiser Pervez Khattak and Asad Umer and from out of them he should select the Opposition Leader already his ultra aggressive approach in the domestic politics has cost him his govt

 

[MenInG]

The references filed by the PTI against 20 of its dissident members to former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser seeking their de-seating under Article 63-A for joining the opposition to support their no-trust motion against ex-premier Imran Khan are likely to be rendered “ineffective” now that the resolution has succeeded without their involvement.

The united opposition managed to receive the support of 174 parliamentarians that were enough to remove the prime minister and decided to keep the dissident PTI lawmakers away from the voting to prevent their party from taking any adverse against them.

Article 63-A of the Constitution suggests disqualification of an MNA on grounds of defection for not obeying the parliamentary party's directions in the election of the prime minister, chief minister or vote of confidence or no confidence against them.

Former deputy attorney general Raja Khalid Mehmood, who had resigned in the wake of NA deputy speaker dismissing the opposition’s no-confidence motion on April 3, said Article 63-A did not apply to the dissident members of the party.

“Having differences with the party’s policies does not fall under the defection clause. However, it would have had they voted against the former premier, but they didn’t do that,” he added.

The references were sent by the former prime minister and handed over to the ex-speaker by the party’s chief whip in the House, Amir Dogar.

The references read that the dissidents were exposed via "large-scale broadcast and videos" to have left the PTI, joined the opposition for the no-trust motion against the premier and no denials or rebuttals were issued to the acts of defection.

They added that show-cause notices were sent to the dissidents to clarify why declarations to de-seat them from the NA should not be issued against them but they had failed to respond to them or clarify their position.

They further stated that the members had failed to adhere to their "sacred duty" and had deceived the confidence of the PTI, the voters and the public by changing their loyalties to another party.

They [the dissidents] had caused "irreparable loss to the democratic system and blatantly injured the cause and object of the PTI”, the references read.

The former speaker was requested to initiate proceedings to de-seat the members under Article 63-A as they had defected from the PTI.

According to the references, enough material was available to hold that the members had exhibited a "change of loyalty" by joining another party and willfully defied the PTI's trust and policy and violated their oath.

Last month, one of the dissidents had revealed that at least 24 of them were staying at the Sindh House in Islamabad.

Raja Riaz, a member of estranged PTI faction known as the Jahangir Tareen group, had claimed that they moved to the Sindh House due to “security concerns”.

 

[uberkoen]

oh man I haven't had this much entertainment in ages. The funniest part of the various speeches by PTI members was when SMQ, logon ki kabron ke paisy khane wala, went on and said "eh mola, me ek khuddar kom ka numaenda, sirf thujh se madad mangta hon"

LOL

 

[ex-q-zit]

Pakistan's Election Commission Moves To Remove Imran Khan As Chairman of His Party

Islamabad: Pakistan's Election Commission today initiated the process to remove Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan from his post following his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

A notice has been issued to the former prime minister and the case has been fixed for hearing on December 13, the Dawn newspaper reported, quoting a top ECP official.

Mr Khan,70, is in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit.

He was later disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Article 63 (i) (p) for making "false statements and incorrect declaration."

According to the ECP records, the gifts were purchased from the Toshakhana -- the state depository established in 1974 -- for ₹ 21.5 million on the basis of their assessed value, while they were valued at around ₹ 108 million.

There have been numerous allegations and counter-allegations between Pakistan's government and opposition since the news of the Toshakhana sale surfaced in the media.

According to Pakistani law, overseas presents need to be deposited in the Toshakhana or treasury for valuation before allowing a recipient to keep it.

Officials in the government are required to report any gifts they receive, but they have a threshold below which they don't have to disclose the full value.

Larger gifts are sent to Toshakhana, although the recipient may be able to buy them back at a discount of up to 50 per cent.

PTI officials said no law bars a convict from becoming an office-bearer of a political party.

In 2018, however, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, while hearing petitions against the Elections Act, ruled that a person disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution could not head a political party.

The ruling paved the way for Nawaz Sharif's ouster as the head of the PML-N following his disqualification by the apex court under Article 62(1)(f).

Pakistan's ousted prime minister Khan on Monday approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the government's inquiry into the audio leaks related to the US cypher.

The LHC Registrar's Office fixed the hearing of a petition of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman challenging a call-up notice by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in an inquiry into an audio leak regarding the US cypher controversy for Tuesday.

The cypher controversy involves alleged audio leaks featuring Khan trying to buy loyalties of lawmakers and also justifying his action before he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament in April. Khan alleged that a US-led conspiracy was targeting him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China, and Afghanistan.

The former cricketer-turned-politician, who came to power in 2018, is the only Pakistani Prime Minister to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

NDTV

 

[daytrader]

ECP issues notice to PTI over tweaks in party constitution
PTI changed party structure after amending its constitution, laying down procedure for issuing tickets

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over amendments in its constitution and directed the party to produce a copy of the amended constitution.

Sources privy to the development said that the PTI changed the party structure after an amendment in the party constitution, laying down a formal procedure for issuing party tickets.

The electoral watchdog took the decision in a meeting held to discuss the party's chairmanship.

Last week, the ECP took steps to initiate the process to remove Imran Khan as chairman of the PTI in light of the election watchdog’s verdict in the Toshakhana case, which disqualified the former premier under Article 63(1)(p) for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.

A notice was issued to the former prime minister and the case has been fixed for hearing on December 13. However, the PTI asserted that the law does not place any bar on a convict from becoming an office-bearer of a political party.

According to Section 5 (1) of the now defunct Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002, “Every citizen… shall have the right to form or be a member of a political party or be otherwise associated with a political party or take part in political activities or be elected as an office-bearer of a political party: provided that a person shall not be appointed or serve as an office-bearer of a political party if he is not qualified to be, or is disqualified from being, elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) under Article 63 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or under any other law for the time being in force.”

It may be noted here that a petition seeking the removal of Imran Khan as the PTI chairman following his disqualification is already pending before the Lahore High Court (LHC).

The petition said that according to the Representation of the People Act 1976 and Political Parties Order (PPO) 2002, it was a legal and constitutional requirement for party officeholders to be qualified in accordance with Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

It said that after Imran’s disqualification from the NA-95 constituency it was “just” for him to be de-notified as the PTI chairman and order should be issued to this effect.

Express Tribune

 

[daytrader]

ECP DELISTS IMRAN KHAN’S PARTY CHAIRMANSHIP CASE

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has delisted hearing of five cases scheduled for hearing on Tuesday (tomorrow), ARY News reported.

As per details, the cases including de-seating Imran Khan as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf head, non-submission of election expenditure details, seizing prohibiting funding and plea seeking the release of victory notification of Imran Khan in the recent by-polls have been delisted.

The above mentioned cases were scheduled to be heard tomorrow, but due to the unavailability of the bench, now will be heard on December 20, the ECP said.

Earlier on December 8, the Supreme Court of Pakistan quashed the contempt of court case against former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan.

According to the details, the case against Imran Khan was delisted due to the unavailability of the bench.

Headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, a five-member bench of the top court conducted a hearing of the contempt case against the former premier.

ARY

 

[daytrader]

Proceedings begin to remove Imran as PTI chief, ECP tells IHC

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) informed the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday that it had initiated proceedings to remove Imran Khan from the post of PTI chairman after his disqualification in the Toshakhana reference.

ECP Director General Law Mohammad Arshad also told the court that the next hearing of the reference has been scheduled for Dec 20, adding that a district and sessions court in Islamabad reserved its verdict on an ECP plea in the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan.

The trial court had taken up the commission’s plea on Nov 22 and is expected to announce its judgement on Dec 15.

The ECP had on Dec 5 initiated the process to remove Imran Khan as PTI chairman in the light of its verdict in the Toshakhana case. He disqualified under Article 63(1)(p) of the Constitution for making “false statements and incorrect declaration”.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took up PTI’s appeal against ECP’s decision to disqualify Imran Khan, but postponed further proceedings to Dec 20 due to paucity of time.

Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, representing Imran Khan, highlighted the urgency of the case in view of the ECP proceedings. He informed the IHC that the National Assembly speaker had accepted applications of a few MNAs without any reasoning, document or evidence in a mechanical manner, and filed in the commission a reference seeking to disqualify Imran Khan under Article 62(1)(f) in the Toshakhana case.

He contended that the NA speaker’s decision and the ECP order were unconstitutional. The counsel argued that for a disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) to take place there must be a pre-existing declaration from a court of law against the member.

He pointed out that in this case there was no declaration from a court of law as required under Article 62(1)(f) against Imran Khan at the time of NA speaker’s decision nor before the ECP when the commission was called upon to answer the questions raised in the reference.

“Hence, the speaker’s reference is unfounded and unconstitutional and ECP should have dismissed the reference by deciding that Imran Khan does not stand disqualified under Article 62(1)(f),” the counsel argued.

The counsel argued that the ECP was not a court of law and there were many judgements of the Supreme Court in which it had been decided that under Article 62(1)(f), no declaration could be made by the ECP. He also referred to the latest case of Faisal Vawda in which the apex court had ruled that the commission had no jurisdiction to give any declaration under Article 62(1)(f).

The counsel said the present case was a strange one in which assets were legally purchased and sold and yet the ECP had disqualified Imran Khan. He referred to many judgements of the superior courts in which it was held that all mis-declarations were not a cause for disqualification but it has to be seen whether the declaration was for any ulterior or dishonest motive.

The counsel emphasised that since Imran Khan had purchased the assets legally, in accordance with the rules, there was no reason for him not to mention the gifts in his assets statement and, hence, the assumption by the ECP that this was dishonestly done was totally incorrect.

DAWN

 

[daytrader]

IMRAN KHAN ANNOUNCES MINAR-E-PAKISTAN POWER SHOW ON SUNDAY

Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has announced to hold a power show at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday, ARY News reported on Monday.

A large number of PTI workers and supporters attended the rally led by chairman Imran Khan. After crossing different routes, the rally reached Data Darbar where the PTI chief addressed the workers.

While addressing PTI activists and supporters during an election rally in Lahore, Imran Khan said that the ‘imported government’ is imposing restrictions to suppress the voices in support of the PTI. He added that he will never forget the martyred PTI activist Zille Shah.

He vowed that the responsible policemen in the Zille Shah murder will face penalties. Khan said that this is not his personal fight but for the whole nation. “I take to streets despite facing threats to my life. Our country is now on brinks of destruction and we are struggling to get real independence.”

The PTI chief said that the supremacy of law will give real independence to the nation. He said that his character assassination was made by the PTI rivals but the Toshakhana case exposed their lies. He added that more revelations will be made if the details of foreign funding to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) are released.

ARY