Balochistan assembly speaker refuses to chair yet another session

Aslam Bhootani says he will not chair a session till the apex court sorts out the constitutional status of Assembly.

QUETTA: Speaker of Balochistan Assembly Aslam Bhootani has once again refused to chair the provincial assembly's session, Express News reported on Saturday.

Speaking to the media in Quetta, Bhootani said that till the Supreme Court sorts out the constitutional position on the Balochistan Assembly and chief minsiter, he will not chair sessions.

He reiterated that after a provisional order of the apex court, the Governor cannot summon the assembly on the advice of the chief minister.

The speaker added that given his absence, the Balochistan assembly session scheduled for December 3, will be chaired by the deputy speaker.

On October 12, the apex court had questioned the constitutional status of the Balochistan government given that the court had observed in its interim order that it had lost the authority to govern the province, bringing into question the status of the Balochistan government.