Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties have decided to withdraw its no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Qasim Suri.
The Opposition has accepted the government’s request and decides to withdraw the motion against Suri, the sources added.
The National Assembly sessions over the past three days have been marred by brawls and exchanges of abuse between the government and opposition lawmakers.
However, on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif, resumed his speech and was not interrupted by PTI lawmakers as he lashed out at the government.
The Opposition had filed a no-confidence resolution against the deputy speaker last week.
The former prime minister and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf said during today’s session of the National Assembly, the Opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker to register its protest.
In response, the speaker said the honour of the leader of the house, the leader of the Opposition, and every lawmaker will be upheld.
“Action will be taken against anyone who uses unparliamentary language,” he said.
Ashraf, after meeting PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, later said the Opposition had filed the no-confidence motion against Suri due to the “hasty legislative” process that had been undertaken under the deputy speaker’s supervision.
“If the government withdraws the legislation, we will also withdraw the no-confidence motion,” he added.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed the Opposition’s move to retract from filing a no-confidence motion against Suri, adding that the Opposition will now target the speaker.
She said the Opposition had taken back the motion against the deputy speaker to submit a no-confidence motion against Speaker Asad Qaiser.
