February 18, 2021 ISLAMABAD: A federal or provincial legislator becomes guilty of defection if he or she commits any one of five acts enumerated in the Constitution. These five acts, however, do not include voting against party directives in the Senate elections. Being guilty of floor crossing entails the disqualification of the deserter as a member of the legislature. A precise procedure has been delineated in the Constitution that must be followed after the concerned party chief finds that a lawmaker has defected. It is a long-drawn-out process in which the Speaker initially plays a key role. Article 63A of the Constitution lists those acts that amount to defection. The first is when a member of a parliamentary party resigns from its membership. The second act of defection is committed when a lawmaker joins another party. The third category of desertion includes voting or refraining from voting in four particular cases: he will be held guilty if he votes or abstains from voting in the legislature contrary to any direction issued by his parliamentary party in relation to the election of the prime minister or the chief minister; votes contrary to party directives or abstains in a vote of confidence or a vote of no-trust against them; or votes against or abstains during a money bill or a constitutional amendment bill.