ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif Thursday said that the NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri once again failed to follow the constitutional procedure by calling the debate session on the no-confidence motion off.
Addressing a press conference flanked by other joint Opposition leaders, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Shahbaz said that the entire nation saw that 172 Opposition members were present in the house, however, the deputy speaker did not allow the voting, which shocked the whole country including the judiciary.
“When the deputy speaker saw that the members of the Parliament wanted to vote against the premier, “he ran away.” He added.
Today, as per the agenda of the National Assembly, a debate session was to be held on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan after which — according to the law — the speaker has to hold voting within four days.
The Opposition leader further added that he, along with Bilawal, went to the NA secretary after the deputy speaker adjourned the session till April 3.
“The secretary informed us that the decision regarding not holding the debate related to the no-confidence motion was taken by the deputy speaker,” Shahbaz said.
Shahbaz questioned: “Does this “selected” prime minister have any constitutional or ethical justification left?”He further added that the Opposition had decided not to take extreme measures which are against the law, adding that all members of the joint Opposition showed the Imran Khan-led government that his time is over and the “finishing line is near.
Regarding the “threat letter”, Shahbaz said that it was a “fraud.” The PML-N leader demanded the premier declare the name of the country that had issued this “so-called threat.”
“I was sent a verbal invitation to the NA National Security Committee’s meeting which is not an ethical practice of the Parliament and hence, the joint Opposition decided to boycott the meeting,” he said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the Opposition had presented 172 lawmakers in the National Assembly which proves that PM Imran Khan has nowhere to “run”.
Bilawal said PM Imran Khan was pleading to everyone he could find to save his office, but “no one can help as there is no safe passage, face-saving option, or a backdoor route to save him.”
But he said there is an honorable way for the prime minister: he should resign voluntarily.
JUI-F’s Asad Mahmood said that in the past, several prime ministers were removed from office and they are still searching for the reason for their ousters.
He hoped that the speaker and deputy speaker do not take the Constitution into their hands and allow the Opposition lawmakers to debate on the no-confidence motion.
ANP’s Ameer Haider Hoti blamed the prime minister and PTI for the political crisis in the country, saying that the main characters behind it were the speaker and the deputy speaker.
Speaking on the occasion, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal said the united Opposition has proved that the majority is against the premier.
