After two days of ruckus in NA, Opposition decides to move no-confidence motion against Speaker

Yesterday's proceedings in the NA marked the "darkest day for democracy in Pakistan's history," says Opposition

By Web Desk
June 16, 2021
(L to R) JUI-F Leader Asad Mehmood, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto meeting in Islamabad, on June 16, 2021. — Still from video shared by PPP's media cell

Following two days of ruckus in the National Assembly, the Opposition has taken the decision to jointly move a no-confidence motion against the house's speaker, Asad Qaiser, sources informed Geo News on Wednesday.

The decision, according to the sources, was made during a meeting of Opposition party leaders in Islamabad, where they decided to form a committee that would draft a plan of action to move the no-confidence motion.

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Yesterday's proceedings in the NA marked the "darkest day for democracy in Pakistan's history," the Opposition leaders observed, according to the sources.

"The Speaker has failed to fulfil his constitutional, legal, democratic, and parliamentary responsibilities [...] he is the protector of every parliament member, but [he has failed in his duties] and is not qualified to hold office anymore," they said.

The leaders demanded that a parliamentary committee be established with equal representation — from treasury and Opposition benches — to probe the ruckus that had transpired in parliament.

What transpiredin the parliament?

On Tuesday, the NA proceedings witnessed humiliating scenes when the ministers and parliamentarians were seen creating a ruckus, using filthy language, whistling, and attacking each other with budget books during the speech of the Opposition Leader in NA Shahbaz Sharif on the federal budget.

During the uproar, one of the members from the treasury benches threw a book towards Shahbaz, which fell on the dais in front of him. The members from two sides came close to a physical brawl in front of the NA Speaker’s chair, but he could do nothing except for making requests and suspending proceedings time and again.

The security staff of the NA made a protective circle around the Opposition leader and pushed back the government members, who were trying to move towards him.

Opposition members also encircled Shahbaz Sharif to prevent him from any attack.

In the meantime, one of the security staffers, Asif Kiani, was slightly injured when a book hit him close to his eye.

A video showing Ali Nawaz Awan of the PTI abusing an opponent also went viral on social media. However, the PTI member said it was Shaikh Rohail Asghar of the PMLN who used abusive language first.

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