ISLAMABAD: The crucial National Assembly (NA) session, with a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the agenda was adjourned till March 28 (Monday) without tabling of the resolution.
The session began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and prayers for late MNA Khayal Zaman, former president Rafiq Tarar and Senator Rehman Malik.
NA speaker Asad Qaiser announced that he was adjourning the session after ‘fatehakhwani’ as per the traditions of the lower house of parliament to show respect for departed MNA Khayal Zaman.
It is parliamentary convention that the first sitting after the death of an MNA is limited to prayers for the soul of the departed and tributes fellow lawmakers wish to pay them.
Qaiser stated that according to tradition, the agenda is deferred to the next day when a member of the lower house passes. “This has happened for years,” he said, adding that this had happened a total of 24 times in the past.
In response to the no-confidence motion, the NA speaker said he will allow the debate on the no-confidence motion as per the Constitution on Monday, March 28.
The ruling PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Shireen Mazari, Asad Umar and Ali Muhammad Khan were among those attending the session, as well as Grand Democratic Alliance’s Dr Fehmida Mirza.
From the opposition ranks, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilalwal Bhutto-Zardari and PPP co-chair Asif Ali Zardari, were also present.
The National Assembly Secretariat had on Thursday issued a 15-point ‘Orders of the Day’ for the NA session, which included the no-confidence resolution.
As Asad Qaiser adjourned the session, the opposition leaders started protesting, requesting the speaker to take up the motion but the speaker did not turn their mics on and retired to his chamber.
‘Confident Opposition’
Opposition leaders had gathered for a meeting prior to the session during which, according to the PPP, “important instructions” were given to lawmakers.
Talking to journalists, Zardari appeared to be confident about today’s session. “All eyes are on you. You have previous experience. How confident are you?” asked one reporter. “God willing, if my Maula wants, 100 per cent,” he replied.
He also brushed aside concerns that “undemocratic powers” could take advantage of the situation. “We have a strategy for that: If you are so interested, then you are most welcome,” he added.
His son, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, was also all smiles and told reporters that the no-confidence motion had been included in today’s agenda.
“Going forward, the people will win and the selected will face defeat. Winning and losing are in the hands of God but we are working hard,” he added.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said that the opposition would exercise its right to table the motion during today’s session. However, if the motion is not tabled, then we will consult among ourselves, he said.
Assembly proceeding to be run as per Article 95
On March 23, after accusations of being “biased” and a “party to PM Imran Khan”, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had clarified that he would act according to the law and would run the assembly’s proceedings as per Article 95 of the Constitution.
In a statement, Qaiser had said: “I, as the custodian of the National Assembly of Pakistan, will fulfil my constitutional obligations and will proceed in accordance with Article 95 of the Constitution and rule 37 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.”
On March 14, Qaiser had said he would follow the law during the voting on the no-confidence motion after the Opposition took strong exception to his remarks about the possibility of the failure of the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.
