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Speaker calls NA session on Friday after consultation with Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has summoned the session of the lower house to deliberate on the opposition’s no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 25 (Friday) at 11am.

The session, which will be the 41st of the current National Assembly, was summoned after the joint opposition made the requisition for it under Article 54 of the Constitution along with the submission of the no-confidence motion against the prime minister on March 8.

According to Article 54, once a session of the National Assembly has been requisitioned with signatures of at least 25 per cent of the members on it, the speaker has a maximum of 14 days to summon a session. Therefore, the speaker had to call the lower house in session by March 22.

ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser discussing political situation with Prime Minister Imran Khan at PM House. According to sources, the Speaker has summoned the session of National Assembly on Friday 25th March after consultation with the Prime Minister. Opposition call the date against the Constitution.

However, according to a notification issued from the NA Secretariat today, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, a motion was adopted by the National Assembly on January 21 to allow the exclusive use of its chamber for the 48th session of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22 and 23.

It further said that due to its own chamber’s unavailability, the NA Secretariat had asked the Senate Secretariat to provide its chamber for the lower house’s session but it was also unavailable due to renovation work.

The notification further said that the chairman CDA and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad were also approached for the provision of a suitable place outside the Parliament Building but “they have informed in writing that no suitable place is available at present in Islamabad.”

“In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, it is evident that no suitable place would be available for holding the session of the National Assembly till 24th March,” the notification issued in Qaiser’s name stated.

Parliament building

“Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon me under clause (3) of Article 54 of the Constitution … I herby summon the session of the National Assembly on the first available date i.e. 25th March.”

After the NA is in session, the rules of procedure dictate that the secretary will circulate a notice for a no-confidence resolution, which will be moved on the next working day.

From the day the resolution is moved, it “shall not be voted upon before the expiry of three days, or later than seven days,” according to the rules.

Arbitrary delay could invoke Article 6: Sherry Rehman

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman condemned the delay and said the NA speaker could not arbitrarily delay the requisitioned session.

“If he violates Article 54, which read with Art 95 of the Constitution of Pakistan, enjoins on him the duty of calling such a session within the outer limit of 14 days, he will invoke Article 6 for violation,” she said.

Article 6 of the Constitution deals with high treason and says: “Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or hold in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.”

Bilawal Bhutto

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday hit out at the government and Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar for allegedly “violating the Constitution” by exceeding the 14-day limit of convening a National Assembly session after a requisition of the session was filed by the opposition.

The speaker has summoned the session of the lower house to deliberate on the opposition’s no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan on March 25 (Friday) at 11am.

The session, which will be the 41st of the current National Assembly, was summoned after the joint opposition made the requisition for it under Article 54 of the Constitution along with the submission of the no-confidence motion against the prime minister on March 8.

According to Article 54, once a session of the National Assembly has been requisitioned with signatures of at least 25 per cent of the members on it, the speaker has a maximum of 14 days to summon a session. Therefore, the speaker had to call the lower house in session by March 22.

Reacting to the development at a press conference, Bilawal accused the NA speaker of flouting the Constitution, saying the opposition would pursue the matter legally at the Supreme Court. “Our lawyers will raise legal and constitutional points on the matter and our case is strong,” he said.

He pointed out that there was a 14-day limit after the requisition to call a session, stressing that the speaker could not go beyond the limit as it was “unconstitutional”.

The PPP leader said he was thankful to the Supreme Court for issuing notices to political parties in connection to a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Council (SCBA) seeking the SC’s intervention to prevent “anarchy” ahead of the no-confidence vote against the premier.

NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

The Supreme Court had on Saturday issued notices to four political parties — PTI, PML-N, PPP and JUI-F — in connection with a petition filed by the SCBA.

The SCBA, in its petition, had demanded that officials tasked with the responsibility to maintain law and order in Islamabad must “prevent any assembly, gathering, public meetings and/or processions that could hamper the assembly proceedings or participation of members in the session”.

It had also sought the court’s directions for all state functionaries “to act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law and they be restrained from acting in any manner detrimental to and unwarranted by the Constitution and the law.”

Bilawal said no political party was a party to the SCBA’s petition, however, “I commend that the court gathered on a weekend on Saturday and issued notices while hearing this important plea.”

The PPP leader said he had not thought that the government would move to “violate” the Constitution. “The government is now sensing its defeat and it is now making unconstitutional attempts.”