ISLAMABAD, June 16: The leader of the house in Senate, Wasim Sajjad, on Saturday refuted an opposition claim that the government had delayed vote on its motion in the Senate, seeking a cut in defence spending, so that it could bring treasury members to the house. The treasury members were more in number when a call for count was made, he said.

Speaking at a news conference at the parliament cafeteria, he said the government side was supposed to reply to motions sought to be moved by opposition parties, but the opposition boycotted the proceedings.

When asked about the status of presidential election in case one or more provincial assemblies were dissolved before the start of the process, Mr Sajjad said such a situation would have to be addressed in accordance with the Constitution, adding that in his opinion the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies together formed the Electoral College.

Accompanied by his party’s chief whip Kamil Ali Agha, the leader of the house said he had not yet finalised his report on provincial autonomy on the basis of proposals received from various stakeholders, which might be presented in the next National Assembly session.