ISLAMABAD: Just a day before the Senate election, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-seated on Friday Balochistan MPA Manzoor Khan Kakar on a petition filed by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
The commission also cancelled the party membership of Kakar, who was accused of violating party policy and discipline.
MPA Kakar had violated his party’s instruction and voted for Abdul Quddus Bizenjo during the recent election for the leader of the house following former chief minister Sanaullah Khan Zehri’s resignation in the wake of a vote of no-confidence against him.
Later, the PkMAP sacked the lawmaker and announced legal action against him for his move against the party.
Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, the party’s parliamentary leader, had said the MPA had not only damaged the party’s trust in him, but also violated Article 163 (A) of the Constitution.
Several lawmakers in the Baluchistan Assembly had voted for Bizenjo, an MPA from Awaran, in violation of their parent parties’ instructions. Prominent among the parties that saw most desertions was then ruling PML-N. It has yet to take legal action against its MPAs that violated party discipline in the election.
Published in Daily Times, March 3rd 2018.
