National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has adjourned today's session until Monday, after Federal Minister For Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri recited fateha for deceased lawmaker Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Khayal Zaman and others who recently passed away.
The NA speaker cited parliamentary rules and traditions, under which a session is adjourned after prayers for the departed souls. "Prior to this, NA sessions have been adjourned 24 times due to the demise of fellow parliamentarians," Asad Qaiser said.
The National Assembly agenda on Friday had included 15 items, one of which was to be the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Opposition parties have criticised National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser for not calling the session to discuss the no-confidence vote against the PM within 14-days, terming that this act was tantamount to high treason.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) accused the NA Speaker of abrogating the Constitution by calling the no-confidence session on March 25, three days after the 14-day deadline of March 22.
Despite earlier reports that members of the ruling PTI would not attend the voting session, party members have reportedly not received any instructions regarding today's session. Members of the government had earlier claimed NA Speaker Asad Qaiser would disqualify any PTI lawmakers who voted in favour of the motion.
The government sought the opinion of the Supreme Court regarding Article 63-A of the Constitution, which governs the validity of votes from dissenting party members. Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial remarked on Thursday that it would be ‘contemptuous’ to not count a vote cast during the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that for how long a defecting lawmaker could be disqualified was the most important question.
The chief justice also said that the spirit of Article 63-A should not be ignored, but added that it was not up to the court to find answers. “Such issues are better discussed in the parliament instead of being resolved through a reference,” he remarked.
The NA speaker cited parliamentary rules and traditions, under which a session is adjourned after prayers for the departed souls. "Prior to this, NA sessions have been adjourned 24 times due to the demise of fellow parliamentarians," Asad Qaiser said.
The National Assembly agenda on Friday had included 15 items, one of which was to be the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Opposition parties have criticised National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser for not calling the session to discuss the no-confidence vote against the PM within 14-days, terming that this act was tantamount to high treason.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) accused the NA Speaker of abrogating the Constitution by calling the no-confidence session on March 25, three days after the 14-day deadline of March 22.
Despite earlier reports that members of the ruling PTI would not attend the voting session, party members have reportedly not received any instructions regarding today's session. Members of the government had earlier claimed NA Speaker Asad Qaiser would disqualify any PTI lawmakers who voted in favour of the motion.
The government sought the opinion of the Supreme Court regarding Article 63-A of the Constitution, which governs the validity of votes from dissenting party members. Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial remarked on Thursday that it would be ‘contemptuous’ to not count a vote cast during the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that for how long a defecting lawmaker could be disqualified was the most important question.
The chief justice also said that the spirit of Article 63-A should not be ignored, but added that it was not up to the court to find answers. “Such issues are better discussed in the parliament instead of being resolved through a reference,” he remarked.