ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties have decided to table a no-confidence vote against National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser a day after expletives and altercations marred the budget session.
The decision was taken soon after the announcement by the NA speaker wherein he barred the entry of seven lawmakers to the lower house. The opposition leadership rejected the decision, saying no action was taken against the cabinet members who were actively disrupting the proceedings of the house.
According to sources, a working committee of the joint opposition will be formed to table a motion of no-confidence against the incumbent speaker.
BILAWAL MEETS SHEHBAZ: Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif to express solidarity with him. PML-N President Shehbaz criticised the ruling PTI members and said that yesterday’s incident has made the parliament a laughing stock.
Bilawal said Shehbaz is the leader of the opposition and represents opposition benches in the house. He said he visited Shehbaz to “express solidarity with him.” “We have also discussed the future political strategy and will jointly act on it,” Bilawal added.
BAN ON 7 MNAs:
Earlier in the day, Qaiser banned the entry of seven parliamentarians for displaying unruly behaviour during the speech of opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday.
An order issued by the speaker on Wednesday said the members paid no attention to the “repeated directions of the chair.”
They include Ali Gohar Khan, Chaudhry Hamid Hameed, and Sheikh Rohale Asghar (from PML-N); Faheem Khan, Abdul Majeed Khan and Ali Nawaz Awan (ruling PTI) and Syed Agha Rafiullah (PPP).
The speaker’s order reads: “On 14th and 15th June during the speech of the leader of the opposition on budget 2021-22, the conduct of the Members of the National Assembly was grossly disorderly as they violated rules and despite repeated directions of the Chair, they interrupted the proceeding of the House.
“Therefore, I order for withdrawal of aforesaid members from the precincts of the National Assembly immediately. These members are required not to enter into the precincts of the Parliament House till further orders.”
