Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser on Tuesday rejected the opposition’s allegations regarding number of votes secured by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the vote of confidence.
Talking to media at the inauguration ceremony of newly constructed media centre, he said “I challenge, if one vote proven wrong, I will resign from my seat.”
He urged the political parties to work for strengthening the democracy and promote the culture of mutual respect. “We have to promote democratic norms and should not lose the moral ground” he added.
He said that free press is the basic requirement for democracy and assured to provide necessary facilities to journalists community.
The speaker said, he has constituted a committee comprising members from both the treasury and opposition benches to probe into the unpleasant incidents that took place both inside and outside the parliament house.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani said that he will approach every political party as part of his election campaign for reelection to the seat of Chairman.
He said whosoever wins the elections of the Chairman Senate, political parties main focus should remain on strengthening the parliament and democracy.
Days back Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had successfully obtained the vote of confidence from the National Assembly by securing 178 votes.
PM Khan had voluntarily announced to take a vote of confidence after Hafeez Sheikh lost his Senate election.
Announcing the results, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said 178 members of the house bestowed their trust over PM Imran Khan.
The session started with a recitation from the Holy Quran and the national anthem.
The resolution asking for a vote of confidence from the lawmakers in the lower house of the Parliament was presented by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Speaker NA Asad Qaiser read out the resolution and had asked those who want to vote for the resolution to move towards the right side of the Lobby.
Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the session of the National Assembly, while the opposition boycotted the session.
The prime minister was required to get 171 votes, but he secured 178.
In a bid to win a vote of confidence from the National Assembly, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed all the MNAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to ensure their timely presence in the House.
In a letter to the PTI’s MNAs as the party chairman, PM Imran had said, “You are required to take part in the voting on a resolution for a vote of confidence in the prime minister as per the direction of the party.”
The prime minister warned that action would be taken against the absentee MNAs under Article 63-A of the Constitution.
Imran Khan is the second Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan who is seeking vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
Prior to PM Khan, Nawaz Sharif had sought a voluntary vote of confidence from the Parliament after his reinstatement was granted by the Supreme Court in 1993.
