FAISALABAD – Five Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers, including three MPAs and two MNAs, submitted their resignations to Pir of Sial Sharif Muhammad Hameeduddin, a spiritual leader, on Sunday, dealing a big blow to embattled government.
The resignations were announced during Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (finality of the Prophethood) conference at Dhobi Ghat ground, according to local media reports.
The legislators who tendered their resignations include: Sheikh Muhammad Akram from Jhang (Member National Assembly), Maulana Rehmatullah from Chinot (Member National Assembly), Ghulam Bibi Bharwana from Jhang (Member Provincial Assembly), Ghulam Nizamuddin Sialvi from Sarghodha (Member Provincial Assembly), and Muhammad Khan Baloch (Member Provincial Assembly).
Muahammad Ali Tiwana, PML-N’s Youth Wing Punjab; Malik Saddam Hussain, Member District Council Sargodha; and Deewan Ahmad Masood Chishti, PML-N’s Ulema Mushaikh Wing Chairman have also stepped down from their positions.
Pir Sialvi, who is also a former senator, earlier claimed at least 15 parliamentarians “spiritually associated” with the Sial Sharif shrine would tender their resignations at the public meeting in Faisalabad.
The conference is being attended by caretakers of various eminent shrines across the country, pledging support to Pir of Sial Sharif and his campaign against the culprits of Model Town tragedy.
The estranged lawmakers demand immediate resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
The PML-N government has been facing pressure from opposition parties calling for immediate resignation of the provincial minister for his remarks regarding the status of Ahmadis in the country in a TV show, which he said, had been “distorted and twisted by some rivals to take political advantage”.
Earlier this week, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had assured the Pir that he would visit him shortly and clarify the position and remarks of Rana Sanaullah.
Punjab’s Religious Affairs Minister Zaeem Hussain Qadri and standing committee chairman Malik Waris Kallu had also given a similar assurance to the spiritual leader that Sanaullah would appear before him to clarify his remarks and would resign as minister if he “fails to satisfy” the Pir Sahib.
