Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri, who sparked controversy over the no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and challenged court orders, is still holding the post of Deputy Speaker despite the resignation of Speaker Asad Qaiser and PTI members.
Let us tell you how Qasim Suri, who challenged the Supreme Court, remained in the post of Deputy Speaker for two and a half years despite his incompetence.
Who is Qasim Suri?
Qasim Khan Suri was born in January 1969 in Quetta to a Khilji Pashtun family. His father’s business was a medicine which he took over after his father’s death in 1997. Suri received his early education from Quetta Islamia School and in 198, he enrolled in Federal Government College He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1990 and his Master’s degree in International Relations in 1992, both from the University of Balochistan.
Beginning of politics
Qasim Khan Suri joined the PTI in 1996 and became an active member in 2007. In the 2013 general elections, he stood as a PTI candidate for the National Assembly seat from constituency N259 in Quetta but failed. He got 16,006 votes against Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
Qasim Khan Suri defeated Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani by getting 25,973 votes as PTI candidate for the National Assembly seat from constituency N 256 (Quetta-2) in 2018 general elections.
On August 15, 2018, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly was elected. He got 183 votes and defeated his opponent Asad Mahmood.
Tribunal verdict against Qasim Suri
Balochistan National Party leader Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani challenged Qasim Suri’s victory as a member of the National Assembly and on September 27, 2019, Judge Abdullah Baloch of the Election Tribunal ruled that re-election in NA-265 should be held.
Following this decision, the Election Commission had also issued a notification to de-seat Qasim Suri, however, the election of a new Deputy Speaker could not take place as the National Assembly session was adjourned indefinitely after a quorum was pointed out by a government member.
Qasim Suri’s de-seating was the first time since the 2018 elections that a seat had been vacated due to annulment.
SC’s restraining order
In October 2019, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued a restraining order against the decision of the Election Commission to declare Qasim Soori’s election null and void. He also stopped the issuance of schedule for by-elections and since that day Qasim Khan Suri has been holding the post of Member National Assembly and Deputy Speaker due to restraining order.
Recent controversies
On April 3, Qasim Khan Suri, as Deputy Speaker, filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, which was declared null and void by the Supreme Court.
Following the resignation of Speaker Qaiser on April 9, Acting Speaker Qasim Suri on April 11 made strong remarks on court orders before the election of a new Leader of the House and violated tradition by adjourning the sitting after the election of the Prime Minister.
Qasim Suri has said that the resignations of the resigned members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have started reaching the Speaker’s office and he will send the approval to the Election Commission.
