PTI defection has become a significant issue following remarks from senior leader Asad Qaiser. On Monday, he accused PTI-backed independent candidates of betraying the party and its founder, Imran Khan. The government secured 225 votes, surpassing the necessary 224, with crucial support from these independent MNAs.
Zahoor Qureshi, Aurangzeb Khichi, Usman Ali, and Mubarak Zeb voted in favor of the amendment. They were joined by Chaudhry Ilyas of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). The newly passed judicial reforms mean that the chief justice of Pakistan will now be chosen by a parliamentary committee and will serve a fixed term of three years. A new constitutional bench will also be created.
“Those who voted in favor of the bill have committed treachery against the party and its founder,” Qaiser said during a media briefing. He stressed that their votes did not align with PTI policy. “These were not their votes; they were votes for the founder of PTI,” he added.
Qaiser accused the government of bypassing parliamentary rules. “The government did not adhere to the proper rules and processes for this bill,” he asserted. He claimed that the events in Parliament were unconstitutional and that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lacked proper representation in the Senate. “What happened was unconstitutional, and there is no representation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Senate,” he stated.
He criticized the government’s tactics, alleging they were forcibly buying loyalties. “It’s shameful that they think they have done something democratic or legal by forcibly buying loyalties,” Qaiser remarked. He called for public action, urging citizens to raise their voices against this defection. “I hope the nation will raise a strong voice,” he said, asserting that PTI would follow Imran’s directives.
PTI’s stance on the current assembly is firm. Qaiser announced that the party no longer recognizes it, labeling it a “fake assembly” without a public mandate. “This assembly does not have the public’s mandate, and we do not consider its legislation valid,” he stated.
He also warned of legal actions against those showing disloyalty to PTI. “There will be legal action against those who showed weakness,” he confirmed. Qaiser mentioned that Zain Qureshi did not vote, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi is making sacrifices for the party.
He appealed to the public to boycott the dissident members. “The party will carry out a complete inquiry, and those found guilty will face action,” he concluded, reiterating the call for accountability within the party.
