2023 Pakistani parliamentary crisis

2023 Pakistani parliamentary crisis began when 127 MNAs belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resigned en masse from National Assembly.[1][2] Finally, all by-elections have been suspended by the High Courts from the four provinces.

These by-elections were called due to the acceptance of resignations of members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).[3][4]

Background

After the removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan through a successful vote of no-confidence, 123 MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with Imran Khan and several former Ministers, resigned from the National Assembly of Pakistan. Although the Deputy Speaker at the time, Qasim Suri, accepted said resignations, he soon resigned from the National Assembly as well. Newly-elected Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf summoned PTI MNAs to individually verify their resignations but no one appeared.[5][6][7]

On 29 July 2022, 11 of these resignations were accepted and by-elections were held in October 2022, which the PTI won in a landslide.[8][9][10]

On 17 January 2023, 35 more resignations were accepted. 33 of these 35 resignations were of MNAs who were elected on general seats, and hence, by-elections are required for these seats. 32 of these seats belonged to the PTI, and one belonged to the Awami Muslim League (AML). On 20 January 2023, 35 more resignations were accepted, and 31 of these seats required by-elections. Therefore, a total of 64 by-elections will have to happen.[11][12]

On 27 January 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the date for the first set of 33 by-elections to be 16 March 2023. Later, on 3 February 2023, the ECP announced the date for the second set of 31 by-elections to be 19 March 2023.[13][14]

On 20 February 2023, the Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the ECP's de-notification orders of MNAs from Punjab and therefore, by-elections were suspended for 27 of these 64 constituencies, but will happen for the remaining 37.[15]

On 1 March 2023, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and the Balochistan High Court (BHC) suspended the ECP's de-notification orders of all three MNAs from Islamabad and the single MNA from Balochistan, respectively. Therefore, by-elections were suspended for these four constituencies as well.[16][17]

On 3 March 2023, the Peshawar High Court had suspended the by-election schedule for all constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[18]

Candidates

Initially, the PTI decided to contest its chairman Imran Khan in every constituency. However, they later decided to change course and, in most constituencies, decided to field the MNA whose resignation was accepted.[19]

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has decided to not contest these by-elections as it believed them to be a waste of "funds, energy and time". Moreover, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P), decided against participating in these elections, accepting suggestions from the PDM, their coalition partners in the federal government. The Awami National Party (ANP), another PDM ally, has only decided against contesting in constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[20][21][22][23][24]

References
  1. "By-elections for 33 vacant NA seats on March 16".
  2. Desk, BR Web (2023-02-03). "ECP announces by-election schedule for 31 more NA seats". Brecorder. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  3. https://www.app.com.pk/national/ecp-announces-by-election-on-8-na-vacant-seats-of-kp/
  4. "ECP announces by-polls on 33 NA seats on March 16". 27 January 2023.
  5. "Resignations of 123 PTI MNAs accepted". The Express Tribune. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  6. Dawn.com (2022-04-11). "PTI announces mass resignations from National Assembly". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  7. "Speaker summons 131 PTI MNAs to verify resignations". The Express Tribune. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  8. "Pakistan National Assembly accepts resignation of 11 PTI MNAs". ANI News. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  9. Desk, BR Web (2022-10-16). "Oct 16 by-polls: PTI wins majority of seats in all three provinces". Brecorder. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  10. "Imran Khan wins NA-45 Kurram by-elections, unofficial results show". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  11. "ECP - Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  12. "ECP - Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  13. "ECP - Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  14. "ECP - Election Commission of Pakistan". www.ecp.gov.pk. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  15. Bilal, Rana (20 February 2023). "LHC suspends ECP denotification of PTI MNAs from Punjab". DAWN News. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  16. "IHC suspends de-notification of three PTI MNA's including Asad Umar". dunyanews.tv. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  17. Web Desk (1 March 2023). "BHC stops ECP from holding by-poll on NA-265 seat". ARY News. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  18. Yousafzai, Rizwan (3 March 2023). "Peshawar High Court suspends schedule of NA by-polls in KP". Geo News. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  19. Desk, BR Web (2023-02-03). "Imran Khan decides against contesting by-elections on 33 NA seats". Brecorder. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  20. "MQM-P to contest NA by-polls". The Express Tribune. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  21. Samaa Web Desk (2023-01-17). "PDM decides not to contest by-elections on PTI's 35 vacant NA seats". Samaa. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  22. Solangi, Shakir (14 February 2023). "Following PDM's footsteps, PPP decides against contesting by-polls". Samaa News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  23. Rafay, Hussain (17 February 2023). "MQM-P decides against contesting NA by-elections". ARY News. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  24. "ANP also decides against contesting by-polls". Dunya News. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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