RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs who did not attend the National Assembly session for eight months were paid ten months salary, it is learnt.

According to the sources, National Assembly secretariat paid salaries to PTI MNAs including Imran Khan though they had submitted their resignations in August 2014 during the sit-in in protest against the alleged rigging in election 2013.

The sources said total payment is estimated to be around Rs12.636 million and each member will get Rs469, 000.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has moved two separate motions in the National Assembly on April 23, 2015 for de-seating 28 PTI MNAs due to their continuous absence from the House for over 40 working days without intimating the speaker.

Both the parties from treasury and opposition moved back-to-back motions under Article 64 of the constitution against PTI lawmakers, who remained absent from the House in protest against the government over alleged rigging in general elections and even submitted resignations to Speaker’s Chamber.

The Speaker who was chairing the House at that time ruled that consideration of the motions about de-seating opposition party lawmakers, including PTI chief Imran Khan, will be taken after expiry of seven days under the Rules and Procedures and Conduct of Business.

The motions were moved against Imran Khan, Engineer Hamidul Haq, Asad Umar, Sajid Nawaz, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Imran Khattak,  Engineer Ali Muhammad Khan Advocate, Amjad Ali Khan, Mujahid Ali, Shafqat Mehmood, Aqibullah, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, Shehryar Afridi, Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan, Khiyal Zaman Orakzai, Arif Alvi, Dr Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Dr Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Dawar Khan Kundi, Munaza Hassan, Col Ameerullah Marwat, Nafeesa Inyatullah Khan Khattak, Murad Saeed, Sajida Begum, Junaid Akbar, Ayesha Gulalai, Qaiser Jamal and Lal Chand.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had also issued ruling that PTI MNAs resignations were not accepted and they are members of the National Assembly.

The PTI lawmakers returned to Lower House of the Parliament after boycott of nearly eight months as the government accepted Imran Khan`s demand of a judicial commission to probe alleged rigging in the 2013 general election. When contacted PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi told Business Recorder that he is not aware who got the salary.