National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has started considering various options to counter the vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan, sources said, amid the opposition's demand for a neutral voice heading the august house.
Citing sources, Aaj News reported that Qaiser has sought answers from the NA Secretariat on various questions to block the passage of the opposition’s legislative move.
The development comes amid the opposition's concerns over the NA speaker's neutrality related to the vote of no confidence. Opposition leaders -- including PPP Senator Sherry Rehman and Leader of Opposition in NA Shehbaz Sharif -- on Saturday in separate statements demanded that the house speaker avoids taking sides on the vote.
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However, the government's move implies that it wanted to stop the estranged parliamentarians, who in the past few weeks have been contacted by the opposition leaders many times, from casting votes. In addition to this, the ruling party has also been making contacts to resolve differences with disgruntled leaders and avert the opposition's move. Amidst all this, former minister Aleem Khan had met with the Tareen Group, that has asked for Buzdar to be removed if the current government wants their support.
Stopping estranged leaders from voting
"Can the estranged lawmakers be stopped from casting votes on election day?" asked Qaiser. To this, the legislative department of the NA replied negatively. To another question related to conducting investigations into people going against party policy, the experts said that Article 63 (1) was clear on the issue.
Action against suspicious members
Qaiser also asked if could he take action against suspicious members of the NA highlighted by PM Imran. To this, the experts said the NA speaker will only be able to take any action after receiving an official declaration from the party chairperson.
Ruling before voting
The NA speaker had also asked whether or not he can give any ruling before the voting of estranged lawmakers. The NA Secretariat was of the view that it was the prerogative of the house speaker to give rulings. But, they added the Constitution and law were clear on the said query.
In a tweet on Saturday, Leader of Opposition in NA Shehbaz Sharif said the speaker was the custodian of the house, a role which "requires him to be neutral and above party affiliation."
"Given his conduct & statements, Asad Qaiser has come across as partisan & heavily tilted in favour of PTI. There is a huge question mark on his role & probity," he said in a tweet.
Moreover, PPP Senator Raza Rabbani in a statement had alleged that the incumbent lower house speaker of parliament has exposed himself to be bound by his party line. "The [NA] Speaker’s conduct must inspire confidence in the Opposition and Treasury benches. His [Asad Qaiser] silence on the arrest of MNAs and raid on Parliamentary Lodges, which is under his jurisdiction, shows his bias," it read.
