| New Speaker likely to take Oath today | PPP’s Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has submitted nomination papers for NA Speaker’s slot
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A session of the National Assembly related to the no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri has been scheduled to take place Saturday at 12pm.
According to a notification issued by the National Assembly Secretariat Friday, the voting on the no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker will take place today, while the election and oath-taking ceremony of the new speaker will also be held on the same day.
On Wednesday, in a bid to delay the election of the speaker, Suri had used his special powers under the rules and had changed the date of the NA session from April 16 to April 22.
According to the official handout issued by the NA Secretariat: “The National Assembly session, which was scheduled to be held at 4pm on April 16, will now be held at 3pm on April 22. The change in the schedule has been made by the acting speaker under Rule 49(2) of the Rules and Procedure for the Conduct of the Business in the National Assembly 2007”.
The seat for the NA speaker fell vacant following the resignation of Asad Qaiser, who decided to step down from his post on April 9, minutes before the Supreme
Court’s deadline for the voting on the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan.
On the other hand, PPP leader and former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s nomination papers for the NA speaker’s slot have been submitted as he seeks to assume the office.
Since no other NA member has submitted their nomination papers and the deadline has ended, NA Secretariat sources said the PPP leader has a high chance of getting elected to the office.
Asad Qaiser had announced his resignation as National Assembly Speaker last Saturday saying he is resigning from his post after the country was plunged into political chaos.
Qaiser, announcing the development during the crucial National Assembly session, handed over the session to a member of the panel of chair Ayaz Sadiq, who then took the proceedings of the house further.
“I am liable to the Constitution and the most important demand of the oath is to protect the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan,” said Qaiser in his last speech as speaker.
The former speaker said that the Cabinet has shared the alleged “threat letter” with him and asked the lawmakers to stand for the country’s sovereignty.
Qaiser asked Opposition leader in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif to review the letter and also shared that he would send the letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial.
“I can no longer remain on the seat of the speaker and I resign,” said Qaiser. He also shared that he accepts the Supreme Court’s decision and asked former speaker Ayaz Sadiq to run the session.
“Ayaz Sadiq is requested to come and complete the legal procedure [on the no-confidence motion],” said Qaiser.
