Khan has summoned his cabinet as the Opposition pressurises the Speaker to hold the voting as soon as possible saying that not doing so will amount to ‘contempt of court’
File image of Imran Khan. AP
The Pakistan National Assembly session has been adjourned for the fourth time today after Speaker Asad Qaiser refused to conduct voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, local media reported.
According to Geo News, Qaiser said that he has had a relationship of 30 years with Imran Khan and he can’t end that, even if it means facing contempt of court.’
‘Violation of SC order,’ says Opposition
The Opposition which is getting increasingly frustrated with the delays has accused the speaker of colluding with Khan in a bid to delay the no-confidence motion.
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Khan’s decision to summon his cabinet shows that there is “clearly no intention to hold voting” on the confidence motion today.
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto cognizance of the “brazen violation of the court order” by Khan and the Assembly speaker and deputy speaker.
Meanwhile, Khan has summoned his cabinet to his residence after his government filed a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict that ordered today’s no-trust vote.
On Thursday, the top court had set aside the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling dismissing a no-confidence motion against Khan on 3 April.
What has happened so far
The Assembly met on 9 April to vote on the no-confidence motion against Khan, on the directives of the top court. The prime minister has no far not attended the session.
A joint Opposition that spans the political spectrum from left to radically religious said it has the 172 votes needed in Pakistan’s 342-seat Parliament to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan.
However, the voting kept getting delayed on account of namaaz and iftar.
With inputs from agencies
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