ISLAMABAD: Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaisar adjourned the session of the parliament till March 28 afternoon.
The NA session was summoned today at 11:30 am with 15 items on agenda, including tabling of no-trust move in the House.
However, after offering ‘dua’ and condolences for PTI MNA from Hangu, Khayal Zaman, who died recently, the Speaker adjourned the House till Monday afternoon.
As per parliamentary traditions, only Fateha is offered and speeches to honour the deceased are held on the first day of the session after the death of a member.
On Thursday night, the NA secretariat had issued a 15-point order of the day, with the no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan included on the agenda for the crucial session, alongside other affairs.
Now the no-trust move is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly on March 28.
So far, the PTI government and Opposition are confident of having the required numbers for the success of the no-confidence motion against the prime minister. The opposition had submitted the requisition along with notice of the no-confidence resolution in the National Assembly Secretariat on March 8. The notice of no-confidence resolution against PM Imran Khan was signed by 152 opposition members.
Meanwhile, on March 23, after accusations of being “biased” and a “party to PM Imran Khan” ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion against the premier, 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.
Taking to Twitter, Qaiser had written: “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.
When will be the voting done?
Article 95 says that a resolution of no-confidence shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days and not later than seven days, from the day the resolution is moved in the NA. It says that if the resolution is passed by a majority of the total membership of the House, the prime minister shall cease to hold the office.
As per Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the NA, the Assembly shall not be prorogued unless the resolution of no-confidence is disposed of.
Rule 37 says the Assembly shall not be prorogued unless the motion is disposed of, or leave if the leave is granted, the resolution has been voted upon.
The order of the day also contained calling attention notices and presentation of reports of standing committees. The sources said that the Speaker’s office has also issued directives that no private security guard or guests will be allowed within the premises of the Parliament House.
The opposition parties are confident they have already “managed” much more than the magic number of 172 to send Prime Minister Imran Khan packing.
However, PM Imran Khan claims he has a “surprise” up his sleeve and he will show it only in the upcoming “historic” rally on Sunday, prior to the vote of no-confidence in the NA.
