— Gandapur vows action against those who stood with govt on constitutional amendment
— Those who voted for constitutional reforms ‘betrayed’ PTI, Imran: Asad Qaisar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leaders have vowed to take action against those lawmakers who ‘betrayed’ its directives and voted in favour of 26th Constitutional Amendment.
It merits mention that Zahoor Qureshi, Aurangzeb Khichi, Usman Ali and Mubarak Zeb were the PTI-backed independent MNAs who voted in the tweak’s favour, while Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)’s Chaudhry Ilyas was also was supported by PTI.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Monday issued a stern warning to those who, whether they voted for the 26th constitutional amendment or simply stood by the government, will face consequences.
“We won’t spare anyone aligned with the government, regardless of whether they cast a vote,” he stated during his address to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday.
Gandapur strongly criticised the amendment, describing it as an unconstitutional move benefiting only the elite. He added that the judiciary has been placed under control of this elite class. “This government, which lacks a legitimate mandate, has attacked the judiciary,” he said. “First, we will reclaim our mandate through the public, and then we will reject such amendments.”
Highlighting the ongoing political struggle, he stated, “This is a battle of ideologies. Some may try to force us to retreat, but through this difficult time, we’ve come to know who the traitors, cowards, and corrupt are, and who stands firm for our cause. We will continue to stand firm, God willing.”
Gandapur also pledged to expose those who betrayed former prime minister Imran Khan, noting that names of those who voted or stood by the government would be revealed by the end of the night. “Traitors are traitors, whether motivated by necessity or money. If someone was under pressure, they should have resigned. Why didn’t they?” he questioned.
He vowed to hold those accountable who changed their loyalties for personal gain. “The nation will take them to task, and so will we. If anyone thinks they can easily get away with this, they are mistaken.”
Gandapur further warned that if the senior-most judge is not appointed chief justice, they will once again take to the streets in protest.
In a pointed message to state institutions, he remarked, “I am openly telling all decision-making bodies that you are accountable. You cannot act in this country without being questioned, nor can you silence everyone.”
On the subject of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), he said the institution had achieved nothing other than political revenge. “Hundreds of billions of the public’s money have been wasted, and the result has been nothing but political victimisation.”
He lamented that Pakistan’s economic woes, including its mounting debts, stem from poor policies and unconstitutional amendments. “When you appoint people of your choice and have them make decisions, those institutions can never progress,” he remarked, pointing to the country’s financial struggles as evidence.
Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari officially approved the 26th constitutional amendment, which has now become law following its publication in the official gazette.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the unanimous passage of the amendment, calling it a “shining example of national consensus” and a fulfilment of the unfinished vision of the Charter of Democracy, initiated by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
He declared that the era of dismissing elected prime ministers is over and expressed gratitude to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman for their efforts in advancing the country’s best interests.
Senior leader Asad Qaiser said on Monday that the PTI-backed independent candidates, who supported the contentious constitutional amendment, betrayed the party and its founder, Imran Khan.
The government clinched 225 votes of the required 224 with the crucial support of a handful of independent MNAs, including those backed by the PTI.
Under the judicial reforms passed during a late-night session of parliament, the chief justice of Pakistan will now be selected by a parliamentary committee and have a fixed term of three years. A new constitutional bench will also be formed.
“Those who voted [in favour of the bill] have committed treachery against the party and its founder,” said Qaiser during a media talk.
Emphasising that the votes cast were not in line with the party policy, Qaiser, a former speaker of the lower house, stated: “These were not their votes, they were votes for the founder of PTI.”
He accused the government of ignoring parliamentary rules and procedures in pushing through the bill. “The government did not adhere to the proper rules and processes for this bill,” he claimed.
The former speaker of the National Assembly further alleged that what transpired in the Parliament was unconstitutional and that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not given proper representation in the Senate.
“What happened was unconstitutional, and there is no representation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Senate,” he added. Qaiser condemned the tactics used by the government, accusing them of forcibly buying loyalties.
“It’s shameful that they think they have done something democratic or legal by forcibly buying loyalties,” he remarked.
Calling for public action, he urged the nation to raise its voice against this betrayal. “I hope the nation will raise a strong voice,” Qaiser said, while affirming that PTI will follow Imran’s directives moving forward.
“We will continue our protest and make it even more effective,” he added. Asad Qaiser announced that PTI no longer recognises the current assembly, calling it a “fake assembly” without the mandate of the people. “This assembly does not have the public’s mandate, and we do not consider its legislation valid,” he asserted.
He also warned of legal action against those who showed disloyalty to the party. “There will be legal action against those who showed weakness,” he said, adding that Zain Qureshi did not vote, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi is making sacrifices for the party.
Qaiser appealed to the public to boycott the dissident members, stressing that PTI would conduct a full inquiry and take action against those involved. “The party will carry out a complete inquiry, and those found guilty will face action,” he concluded.
