QUETTA: Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri has said that the no-confidence motion against him will face the same fate as it did in Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani’s case.

Speaking to reporters after attending a private school event in Quetta, Mr Suri said that the protest in Islamabad was a constitutional right of the participants and the government was fully cooperating with them. “We want the protest to end as soon as possible,” Mr Suri added.

He said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif received relief on the basis of severe illness, but if the Pakistan Peoples Party wanted relief for Asif Zardari, they should approach the court.

He added that the health issue of Nawaz Sharif should not be politicised. “We do not want anything to happen to him and do not want to politicise the matter either. Nawaz Sharif was allowed by the court on medical grounds,” he said.

The deputy speaker said that the number of production orders issued during this assembly tenure were the highest compared to the past.

“For the last 15 months, the National Assembly has been running according to the constitution and the law. A no-confidence motion was brought against the Senate chairman who hails from Balochistan as well, and this resolution will have the similar fate,” he said.

On BNP’s vote regarding the resolution, Mr Suri said that Akhtar Mengal had led BNP and always voted for PTI and will do the same in future.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2019