PPP refuses PTI’s request to requisition NA session

ISLAMABAD: A flat refusal by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to support the efforts of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for requisition of the National Assembly session has really saved the day for the incumbent government otherwise it would be compelled to hold election for the slot of Speaker National Assembly before re-election in NA-122, the sources told ‘The News’ here on Sunday.
The sources said a senior member of PTI approached Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah and asked for support to requisite the session of the National Assembly but later on PPP informed the PTI that it would not do so because it is not the right time for this particular step.
They said PPP was apparently not happy with the Nawaz-led government that was why PTI tried to get its willingness for requisition of the National Assembly session that could make it mandatory for the government to elect new Speaker of the House.
“PTI needed signatures of at least 86 members for the requisition and it was not possible without the support of PPP. Now the government must be feeling relieved as PPP has really saved the day for it despite difference of opinion on number of political issues,” the sources said. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad told ‘The News’ that if the opposition parties submit requisition for the session of the National Assembly then holding election for the slot of the Speaker National Assembly would be mandatory for the government.
“The slot of the Speaker National Assembly cannot stay vacant during the session. If the opposition parties submit requisition with signatures of at least 86 members the election to elect the Speaker National Assembly will be mandatory for the government,” he said.
To a question, he said after submission of the requisition the session of the National Assembly must be called within 14 days, adding “So in case if requisition is submitted then the Deputy Speaker of National Assembly will have no choice except to hold the session within 14 days.”
It is pertinent to mention here that the next session of the National Assembly will be held on October 26. The last session was prorogued on August 13 almost a week before order of re-election in NA-122 by the Election Tribunal. So the parliamentary history will witness a gap of 73 days between two sessions of the National Assembly.