Lawmakers from the SIC, led by Ayaz Sadiq, have declined to accept their resignations from the National Assembly committees.
In a significant turn of events, two prominent opposition leaders, Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, have been handed prison terms by Anti-Terrorism Courts. The sentences, ranging from 5 to 10 years, are related to the May 9 unrest.
Both Ayub and Faraz are PTI-backed members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and hold positions in the National Assembly and Senate respectively. Ayub was de-seated and disqualified in the National Assembly, while Faraz faced similar consequences in the Senate.
The prison terms, however, are still pending due to ongoing appeals. The sentencing and subsequent disqualification of these SIC members have sparked a broader protest among the council's lawmakers, including Barrister Gohar Khan, who have tendered their resignations from parliamentary standing committees.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, in a move that could further escalate the situation, has rejected these resignations. He urged SIC members to remain engaged in parliamentary work and expressed a desire for them to take back their resignations.
In response to these developments, Imran Khan, the incarcerated PTI founder, has called for distancing from parliamentary processes. However, the person who refused to accept the resignation visits from members of the Sunni Ittehad Council protesting against the convictions, exclusion, and disempowerment of PTI-supported SIC members was not explicitly named in the information.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings and political turmoil, Speaker Sadiq maintains his stance, urging SIC members to continue their parliamentary duties. The future of these SIC members, including Ayub and Faraz, remains uncertain as they navigate through the appeals process and the political landscape.
This news was reported by Aaj News on Monday. The rejection of the resignations and the ongoing protests are expected to add another layer of complexity to the already tense political climate in Pakistan.
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