PTI files no-trust motion against its own deputy speaker in PA

Opposition's no-trust motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi not accepted

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly received two no-trust motions in a single day on Wednesday, one against Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi by the joint opposition and the other by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) against its own Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari.

However, the opposition's motion was not accepted by the assembly secretariat. The PML-N's no-confidence resolution against PA Speaker Elahi alleged that he violated assembly rules and influenced PA matters despite having no jurisdiction as he was currently contesting for Punjab chief.

No-confidence against deputy speaker

The PTI had submitted a no-trust motion against Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari for withdrawing the order postponing today's PA session to April 16.

After submitting the no-trust motion, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) claimed that the deputy speaker was no longer eligible to summon the house after the motion had been submitted against him.

The resolution against Mazari contained signatures of the PTI's provincial assembly members and was submitted on the basis of distrust against him.

Deputy Speaker Mazari moved the Supreme Court to take notice of the ongoing constitutional crises in the province, and expressed concern over the lack of cooperation in the assembly secretariat after he had summoned the house.

Talking to the media, Mazari said his staff was also being harassed and pressurised, despite him having the powers of the speaker as the current speaker, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, is now contesting for the provincial chief minister’s position.

"In accordance with law I can conduct the house despite the no-trust motion that has been moved against me," Mazari said, adding that the election was for selecting a chief minister, not a deputy speaker.

He further said that the PA secretariat was unlawful in its act of not assembling the house and that people were aware of the perpetrators who did not want the session to be conducted.

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The PTI's move came days after it had the deputy speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri dismiss a no-confidence resolution filed by the opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, security at the PA was beefed up and barbed wires were placed around the boundary of the Secretariat. No one – including media personnel – were allowed to enter the assembly premises.

The PA 'delay'

After a notification issued by Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari, the deputy speaker delayed the session of the Punjab Assembly till April 16 before reportedly withdrawing the order, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle accused the deputy speaker of trying to create ‘confusion’ to benefit the other side.

The lawmakers also appeared to be confused about the date of the session because the PRO of the speaker and the PRO of the assembly differed on the date of the session to elect the CM.

Mazari’s PRO said the session would be held on April 6 after the withdrawal of the notification, whereas the assembly PRO said the notification for April 16 was valid.

A section of MPAs alleged that Mazari was being “managed” by the opposition as it was the first time that the speaker summoned a session in violation of procedure.

The procedure is that a notification is issued by the governor for the session. But in this case, this practice has not been followed.

However, the opposition MPAs alleged that the government was creating confusion ahead of the session wherein the voting for the CM slot would be held. The opposition enjoys a majority in the house, they claimed.