‘I voted because of the Field Marshal and I came today to vote because of General Asim Munir’
ISLAMABAD:
PTI Senator Saifullah Abro on Monday announced his resignation after voting in favor of the 27th constitutional amendment, against his party’s policy.
Enumerating his reasons for voting in favor of the amendment, which also seeks immunity for Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Abro, while speaking in the Senate, said India was facing global humiliation because of the role of the Pakistan Army in the India-Pakistan confrontation in May this year.
“No one has ever shown that kind of respect [US] Chairman [Donald] Trump pointed to the field marshal. I voted because of the Field Marshal and I came today to vote because of General Asim Munir,” he said.
Abro said during the passage of the 26th constitutional amendment last October that ten members of his family were abducted. “What did my party do to raise its vote for me afterwards?” he asked. He then announced that he is stepping down from his Senate seat.
After hearing his announcement, Senate President Yousaf Raza Gillani remarked: “Senator Saifullah Abro has resigned – but we will make you a senator again.”
Earlier, after Abro’s vote against party politics on the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the PTI decided to initiate action against him under Article 63-A of the Constitution.
Senator Ali Zafar of PTI said Saifullah Abro was now disqualified.
“We will file a case against him in the electoral commission [of Pakistan]. As parliamentary leader, I had instructed all senators not to vote. Saifullah Abro has violated party discipline and voted for the government,” he added.
