PTI rebel MPAs issued show-cause notices for supporting MQM-P's Rana Ansar

By
Suleman Saadat

July 29, 2023

Members of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly present the application for Haleem Adil Sheikhs removal as opposition leader and MQM-Ps Rana Ansars elevation to the post. — Reporter/Rana Javaid
Members of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly present the application for Haleem Adil Sheikh's removal as opposition leader and MQM-P's Rana Ansar's elevation to the post. — Reporter/Rana Javaid 

  • PTI MPAs include Syed Imran Ali Shah, Sanjay Gangwani, Rabia Azfar Nizami. 
  • Party asks all members to submit explanation within three days.
  • PTI to take action in case of unsatisfactory or no response.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday issued show-cause notices to its eight disgruntled provincial assembly members for supporting Mutahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) Rana Ansar's elevation to the opposition leader’s office in Sindh Assembly. 

In a statement issued on Twitter, the opposition party said that it has issued notices to MPAs Syed Imran Ali Shah, Sanjay Gangwani, Sachanand Lakhwani Sachal and Rabia Azfar Nizami for voting for Sindh opposition leader. 

"Umar Omari, Muhammad Ali Aziz, Karim Bux Gabol, and Bilal Ahmed were also issued show-cause notices for voting for the opposition leader against the party policy," the statement added. 

The PTI has asked all members to submit an explanation within three days of the notice being issued for helping in removing party's Haleem Adil Sheikh as opposition leader.

"In case of unsatisfactory or no response, the decision of further action will be taken against all members as per party policy," it added. 

The party said that a formal notification has been issued with the signature of PTI's Secretary General Umar Ayub. 

On July 26, MQM-P's Ansar became the first woman opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly.  

A notification issued by the assembly’s secretariat, de-notified Sheikh as the opposition leader after he lost the backing of lawmakers. 

This is the third time that the opposition leader has been changed in the provincial assembly during the current tenure.

The application had the backing of 38 opposition lawmakers, comprising 21 MQM-P lawmakers, and 14 Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) MPAs. While nine disgruntled lawmakers of the PTI also supported Ansar’s elevation to the opposition leader’s office.