Asad Qaiser didn't chair NA session as he denied ruling under Article 5: sources

• Asad Qaiser expressed concern with PTI leadership over ruling under article 5, says sources.
• To foil the no-trust motion, PM’s legal team endeavoured to woo Asad Qaiser for article 5, reveals sources.
• Deputy Speaker Qasim Soori conducted NA session on day of voting.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had opposed the PTI leadership's script of rejecting the vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan under article 5 of the Constitution, Geo News reported, citing sources.

On Sunday, the National Assembly had to vote on the no-trust motion against the PM, but NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri ruled out the no-trust motion under article 5, subsequently, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the PM’s advice and ordered fresh polls in the country.

According to legal and constitutional experts, by not conducting a vote on the no-trust motion and subsequently dissolving assemblies, the PTI leadership has subverted the Constitution and interpreted article 5 wrongly as it is openly a violation and abrogation of the Constitution.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Sunday took notice of the political situation in the country and said that "any orders and actions that Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly shall be subject to the order of this court."

On the day of voting, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser did not preside over the lower house session. Instead, Deputy Speaker Qasim Soori conducted the session and left the country in a tumultuous situation.

Sources close to Asad Qaiser said that he was not ready to give a ruling under article 5 of the Constitution to reject the no-trust motion against PM.

Qaiser has expressed concern with the PTI leadership over ruling under article 5, said sources.

As per the sources, the PM’s legal team endeavoured to woo Qaiser to foil the trust motion; however, he disagreed with the legal team’s point of view and refrained from attending the lower house session.

NA Speaker Asad Qaiser responded with "no comments" on Geo News' attempt to get his version.

“The matter is in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, therefore I cannot talk on this,” he said.

No-confidence vote against PM Imran Khan deemed 'unconstitutional'

The no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan was dismissed abruptly Sunday after National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri termed it "unconstitutional", saying that it was backed by "foreign powers".

At the outset of the session, former law and information minister Fawad Chaudhry read out Article 5 of the Constitution and accused the Opposition of "disloyalty to the state."

Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri then quickly disallowed voting on the no-trust motion and adjourned the session for an indefinite time. Later, on the prime minister's advice, President Arif Alvi dissolved the assemblies, with the premier asking the nation to gear up for fresh polls.