ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has given the signal to adjourn the national assembly session for an unlimited time to foil the joint opposition Endeavor to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan by no-trust motion.
Speaking to a private TV channel the Speaker claimed that he is empowered to adjourn a session for an indefinite period and his authority could not be challenged in any court.
“Law has given powers to the speaker. Therefore, I have the authority to adjourn the assembly’s session after convening it for as many days as I want,” he said
Earlier PM Imran Khan had directed speaker Asad Qaiser to convene the session for voting on the no-confidence motion on March 21.
Qaiser said that no one could challenge the legal authority of the speaker, adding: “I will not disclose the strategy to counter no-trust motion as it will be known to everyone when the time comes.”
As per rules, if the motion is tabled on March 21 then the voting on it would take place on March 28.
Ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, around 24 members of the PTI have reportedly defected to the Opposition and will likely vote against the party policy.
PTI’s disgruntled MNA Raja Riaz had a day earlier claimed that if PM Imran Khan assures all MNAs that no action will be taken against those who decide to vote against him, they are ready to go back to the Parliament Lodges.
In light of the development, the prime minister has also directed the NA speaker to move the Election Commission of Pakistan against the dissidents and also take legal action against them.
