Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser said on Thursday that he has the ability to suspend a session indefinitely and that his authority cannot be questioned.
“The speaker is empowered by law. As a result, after convening the assembly for as many days as I like, I have the authority to adjourn it “During an interview with Geo News, he stated.
The event happened just hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan asked speaker Asad Qaiser to call the session for voting on the no-confidence motion on March 21 after deliberations with the PTI political committee.
“I will not disclose the plan [to defeat a no-trust motion] because it will be known to everyone when the time comes,” Qaiser said, adding that no one could contest the speaker’s legal authority.
According to the regulations, if the motion is tabled on March 21, it will be voted on March 28.
Around 24 PTI members have reportedly defected to the opposition ahead of the vote on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, and would likely vote against the party’s stance.
Raja Riaz, a disgruntled PTI MNA, had declared a day earlier than if Prime Minister Imran Khan promises all MNAs that no action will be taken against those who vote against him, they will return to the Parliament Lodges.
In view of the situation, the prime minister has asked the speaker of the National Assembly to file a complaint with the Pakistani Election Commission and to pursue legal action against the dissidents.
