ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was chastised by two of the three Opposition leaders, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, for refusing to allow them to file the resolution for the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“[Asad Qaiser] stomped the law and Parliament’s tradition under his feet once again, just like any other member of the ruling PTI, not as Speaker of the National Assembly,” says the statement. Shehbaz Sharif, the Leader of the Opposition, spoke during a press conference following Friday’s brief session, joined by Bilawal and other Opposition leaders.
He said that NA Speaker Qaiser and “Imran Niazi” were both guilty of violating Article 6 of the Constitution.
“The speaker’s role will be remembered as [traitorous]. The speaker did not open my mic and allow me to speak,” Shehbaz complained.
The important NA session debating the no-confidence resolution against the prime minister was postponed to Monday, March 28 as planned.
The session was abruptly ended by the NA speaker, who chaired it, nearly soon after it began with the recital of the Holy Quran.
‘Pakistan has come to a halt’
Shehbaz went on to note that while the request was received on March 8, the deadline for scheduling a session to discuss the no-confidence motion was March 22.
He maintained that because the session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation was set for March 22-23, the speaker might have summoned the session before the OIC moot.
“He has broken Article 6 (which deals with treason) because he did not call the session on the sanctioned time and supported Prime Minister Imran Khan,” Shehbaz remarked.
The Opposition Leader claimed that the custom of adjourning the first NA session after an MNA’s death could have been averted today by reciting Fateha for the departed MNA, as the no-confidence motion is a “crucial” issue.
“Pakistan is at a standstill, the entire nation is looking towards us […] the entire economy is in tatters. The speaker should have allowed voting on the no-confidence motion,” he said.
Shehbaz added that the nation will always remember Qaiser as a person who violated the Constitution.
“We warn the speaker if he makes a move against the constitution on March 28, we will use all legal and political tactics.”
Qaiser has become the “stooge” of PM Imran Khan instead of remaining the speaker.
The next Prime Minister will be ‘elected’
PM Imran Khan was attempting to postpone the session, according to the PPP chairman, but he could only do so for so long. “Like always, the captain has left the field.”
According to Bilawal, the administration is attempting to avoid voting on the no-confidence resolution by using all available means. He swore that the Opposition would remain united and would not yield.
“…the prime minister has lost his majority in the House of Commons. Our current prime minister will soon be replaced as prime minister by an ex-prime minister “According to the chairman of the PPP,
The PPP chairman responded to a query by saying that the next prime minister would be “elected.” Shehbaz responded by saying that Bilawal does not believe in prime ministerial “selection.”
Mehmood says the opposition isn’t going anywhere
Meanwhile, Maulana Asad Mehmood of the JUI-F claimed that the speaker, although being the House’s custodian, spoke like the prime minister’s “servant.”
“Today in Parliament, the Constitution, laws, and norms were breached […] the speaker has presented tangible proof of prejudice,” Mehmood, the son of PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, remarked.
He regretted that the speaker did not call anyone after the event at Sindh House, where scores of PTI workers stormed the lodges to force out dissident PTI MPs “taking refuge” there.
However, he stated that “we are not going anywhere” and that “we will demonstrate our strength both inside and outside Parliament.”
