Opposition leaders launched a scathing criticism of National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, labelling him PM Imran's "stooge" and accused him of making a mockery of the Constitution and laws over the adjournment of the NA session instead of taking up the no-trust vote against the premier.

"If on Monday the speaker tries to use any unconstitutional or illegal manouevres to further delay taking up the no-confidence vote, then we will take up every option at our disposal to ensure the sanctity of the Constitution," said Leader of the Opposition in the NA Shehbaz Sharif while speaking to the media outside the NA after the session was adjourned.

He was accompanied by other opposition leaders including PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto, BNP-M's Akhtar Mengal, ANP's Ameer Haider Hoti, JUI-F's Asad Mahmood, lawmaker Mohsin Dawar and PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb among others.

NA speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session till 4pm, Monday in line with the parliamentary tradition of doing so upon the death of a parliamentarian.

NA session on no-trust motion adjourned till Monday

However, Shehbaz Sharif, along with other opposition leaders, pointed out that the exigent circumstances and current political situation required taking up the motion in order to prevent the crisis from exacerbating further.

"This latest villainy has shown that the NA speaker is nothing more than a stooge of Imran Khan Niazi," said Shehbaz, while accusing the speaker of reducing the Constitution and the country's laws to smithereens.

The PML-N chief said that Qaiser was acting like a henchman of PM Imran instead of performing his role as the custodian of the house.

Parliamentary Precedence

While expressing his respect for parliamentary traditions, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pointed out that there have been instances in the past where the speaker opted not to adjourn a session due to a parliamentarian’s death if key issues were on the agenda.

In 2012, then NA speaker Fehmida Mirza opted to continue the session held after the death of PPP lawmaker Fauzia Wahab. The session was held to elect a new prime minister after the removal of Yousuf Raza Gillani. Bilawal also lashed out at PM Imran, accusing him of seeking excuses to avoid the no-trust vote.

“What kind of captain runs away from the pitch [ground]?” he said. “The opposition is united and we will not let this cowardly prime minister to escape.”

He added that PM Imran knew his party’s days were numbered, which is why the PTI was resorting to every mean at their disposal to delay the vote or avoid it altogether.

“Once we filed the no-trust move, their fear was palpable. They attacked the Parliamentary Lodges, then the Sindh House, but no matter what they do, they will not be able to escape their fate,” he said while stating that after the no-trust vote, Imran would be the ex-prime minister.

“The no-confidence vote will be our democratic revenge against the unconstitutionally elected leader,” he added.

Shredded to bits

JUI-F’s Asad Mahmood, like Shehbaz and Bilawal, pointed out that the NA speaker had acted like an emissary of PM Imran instead of performing his role as the custodian of the house.

“You have shredded the constitution to bits in the last three and a half years and made a mockery of this august institution,” he said. “Your [Asad Qaiser] behavior today was not that of the NA speaker but Imran Khan’s personal servant.”

He also accused the NA speaker of not fulfilling his constitutional duties in the wake of the attack on parliamentary lodges and Sindh House. “The speaker didn’t reach out to the parliamentarians who were attacked as is his responsibility nor did he apologize to them for the state-sponsored terrorism,” he pointed out.

“Asad Qaiser has failed to do his duty as speaker instead he is meeting government allies on behalf of the PM in order to get the requisite votes for the no-trust vote.”

Victory for opposition

Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Akhar Mengal said the government was resorting to desperation in its effort to delay the no-trust vote but to no avail.

The government, and particularly the NA speaker, have used multiple excuses to delay the vote including the OIC moot, attacking parliamentarians, misinterpreting the Constitution, seeking judicial intervention and more, he asserted.

He said that in light of these efforts, it should be clear to all that the government doesn’t have the required numbers to defeat the no-trust vote.

“This is a victory for the opposition," said Mengal.

ANP’s Ameer Haider Hoti meanwhile said that the NA speaker was acting more like the PTI’s chief whip instead of performing his duties as enshrined in the Constitution.

He added that the prime minister should be grateful to the opposition for at least ensuring that he was de-seated in a democratic manner. “While he came in through ‘selection’, his departure will at least be democratic and for that the premier should be grateful to us.”

Hypocrisy galore

MNA Mohsin Dawar, speaking alongside opposition leaders, agreed that the tradition is to adjourn the NA session in case of a parliamentarian’s death. “However, this government has been violating constitutional and parliamentary rules right, left and centre but now parliamentary practices are suddenly of paramount importance,” he continued.

Dawar further said that the speaker has been asked to issue the production order for MNA Ali Wazir, who is currently in police custody, for the joint session, adding that it remains to be seen whether the NA speaker performs his duties.