Pakistan government decided to approach the Supreme Court to seek a ruling on whether disgruntled lawmakers from Prime Minister Imran Khan's party could lose their seats ahead of a no-confidence vote against him.
According to state-media Geo tv, Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said that the federal government has decided to approach the country's top court for interpretation of Article 63-A.
"... we will seek the Supreme Court's interpretation as to what will be the standing of a party member's vote who is found in violation of the party's policy and is involved in horsetrading," the federal minister said.
According to Article 63 (A) of the Pakistan Constitution, a parliamentarian can be disqualified on grounds of defection if he "votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by the parliamentary party to which he belongs, in relation to election of the prime minister or chief minister; or a vote of confidence or a vote of no-confidence; or a money bill or a Constitution (amendment) bill", Dawn reported.
The information minister said the government would seek the apex court's guidance on whether a person, who shifts loyalty for monetary benefit, should be ineligible for a lifetime for becoming a lawmaker or whether they could contest polls again and be elected to parliament.
"The Supreme Court will be requested to hear the case on a daily basis," he said.
This comes during a consultative meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's political committee held today with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair.
The meeting was convened to discuss the legal options available to act against the disgruntled lawmakers and counter the Opposition's move to dislodge the government of Imran Khan, Geo tv reported.
It is reported that 24 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sought refuge in Sindh House ahead of the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister.
MNAs said that if PM Khan assures them no action will be taken against them, they are ready to go back to Parliament Lodges, reported Geo News.
PTI's disgruntled member of the National Assembly Raja Riaz said that many other ministers are ready to come here, however, "Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) is unable to accommodate all the members."
However, those lawmakers reportedly shifted from Sindh House to unknown locations.
Meanwhile, PTI party workers staged a violent protest in Islamabad today and barged into the Parliamentary lodges to throw the lawmakers out. The party workers chanted slogans against the disgruntled lawmakers.
( With inputs from ANI )
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