Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate for the slot of prime minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, announced on Monday that PTI lawmakers would be resigning en masse from the NA ahead of the voting to elect the new prime minister.

The PTI MNAs walked out of the National Assembly after PTI's Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that they are boycotting the election of the new prime minister.

Earlier Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri while chairing the session clarified why he had taken the decision to dismiss the no-confidence motion against then Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 3, saying that he had taken the decision as a responsible Pakistani and deputy speaker of NA.

Suri in his speech also referred to the 'letter' that PTI chairperson Imran Khan had waved during a public gathering in Islamabad's Parade Ground on March 27 and said that the 'letter' purportedly contained evidence regarding the 'foreign conspiracy' to oust the prime minister.

Suri claimed that the 'threat letter' was sent to Pakistan before the no-confidence motion was submitted against the former premier.

He repeated claims made by the PTI leadership that the cable warned of dire consequences if the no-confidence motion against Imran was not successful while adding that Imran was removed for pursuing an independent foreign policy and fighting the case for Islamophobia.

The deputy speaker added that he was sealing the cable and sending it to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial.

Suri said that his April 3 ruling was in line with the constitution and the oath he had taken as deputy speaker.

Speaking on the floor PTI's prime minister nominee, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, said that today the country was at crossroads and the nation would have to choose between the path of slavery and the path of independence.

He further thanked his party and party chairperson Imran Khan for showing confidence in him and nominating him as the candidate for the prime minister's slot.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PTI's Shah Mahmood Qureshi were in the race to become the country's new prime minister.

However, after PTI boycotted the elections and walked out of the assembly, Shehbaz was the lone contender for the prime minister's slot and was elected unopposed.