- Says still in consultation about summoning the NA session
- No date finalised for no trust motion; says Asad Qaisar
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday said that he would abide by the law and rules in the matter pertaining to dissident lawmakers’ votes on a no-trust motion filed by the joint opposition against PM Imran.
Qaiser has come under fire this week, with the opposition terming his conduct “partisan” and demanding that he should not preside over the session on the fateful day of voting on the no-confidence resolution.
The reaction from the opposition parties had come in response to a controversial speech by Qaiser in Swabi in which he defended the premier and declared that PTI members would fight with full force the opposition’s move that he said would fail.
The NA speaker was Monday asked by journalists whether he had sought the advice of the National Assembly’s legislation branch on the potential rejection of votes cast by any lawmakers who cross the floor.
“Let me make this clear, whatever I will do will be in accordance with the law and rules. What the government and opposition are doing is not my concern,” he said.
“I have definitely sought legal opinions and it is my job to discuss this with legal experts,” Qaiser told reporters at the Parliament House,” he added.
He, however, denied writing any letters to the NA legislation branch in this regard.
Qaisar said that moving the no-confidence motion is the constitutional right of the opposition.
However, he did not specify a date for holding the National Assembly session for the no-trust vote.
Asad said that he is still in consultation with the National Assembly secretariat about summoning the session for the no-confidence motion, adding that the session will be called in line with the Constitution.
“Let me make this clear, whatever I will do will be in accordance with the law and rules. What the government and opposition are doing is not my concern,” he said.
“I have definitely sought legal opinions and it is my job to discuss this with legal experts,” he added.
Replying a question about the opposition’s announcement of submitting a no-confidence motion against him as well, Qaisar said that it is the opposition’s constitutional and legal right to file the motion.
“I welcome it (the decision),” he said.
