New party position after NA Speaker's letter, PTI members part of SIC

Islamabad: After the letter written by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the party's position in the National Assembly has changed.

The National Assembly Secretariat has issued a new party position according to which 80 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members have been declared as members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

In the statement released by the National Assembly Secretariat, the seats withdrawn from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Jamat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) have been mentioned in the party position. The new positions have been released on September 18.

According to the announcement, on the government benches in the National Assembly, the PML-N has 110 seats, PPP has 69 seats, Mutahidda Qoumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has 22 seats, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has five seats, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Has four seats, Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and the National Party each has one seat.

According to the National Assembly Secretariat, there are 213 members on the government benches apart from 20 reserved seats. While on the opposition benches, there are 80 members of SIC, eight members of JUI, eight independent members supported by PTI, PK Map, BNP-Mengal and MWM each has one member.

An independent member on the opposition benches has joined the PML-N.

According to the secretariat, 15 reserved seats were given to PML-N, five reserved seats to PPP and five to JUI, but the reserved seats are not included in the count.

The number of members in the National Assembly is 313 without 23 reserved seats, empty and controversial. After giving 23 seats to PTI, the number will be 336.

It is pertinent to note that yesterday Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq wrote a letter to the ECP in which it was stated that reserved seats should be allotted under the Election Act while maintaining the independence of the Parliament. A Member of Parliament who has not submitted the party certificate along with the nomination papers shall be an independent candidate. Independent members who have become part of a political party cannot be allowed to change parties.