Speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani. PHOTO: FILE
A no-confidence motion is slated to be tabled against Speaker Muhammad Aslam Bhootani in the 26th session of the Balochistan Assembly at 11 am today (Wednesday).
Twenty-two members of the provincial assembly have already signed the no-confidence motion against the embattled speaker and sources revealed that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Awami National Party (ANP) and Baloch National Party-Awami (BNP-A) have been in contact to ensure the move’s success.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) members, who are in majority in the Balochistan Assembly, have decided that if the no-confidence motion succeeds, they will table their own candidate for the position of the assembly speaker — asserting that the post will not be given to the JUI-F.
Earlier on Monday, while addressing a press conference, Speaker Bhootani had categorically stated that he will not attend the assembly session on Wednesday.
He asserted that the no-confidence motion against him in the provincial legislature was “illegal and unconstitutional”.
He was of the view that even though the legislature had the right to move a no-confidence motion against him, the method picked was against the rules and procedures of the assembly. Bhootani went so far as to say that he would go to the court of law against the illegal move against him.
On the other hand, opposition MPA Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind has decided to attend session and pledged to extend unconditional support to the speaker.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2012.
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