'Have authority to adjourn session for as long as I want': NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

• "Will not disclose my strategy to counter no-trust motion," Asad Qaiser says.
• Speaker says he has authority to adjourn NA session for an indefinite period.
• PM Imran Khan has directed speaker Qaiser to convene a session on March 21.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser Thursday said he is empowered to adjourn a session for an indefinite period and his authority could not be challenged.

"Law has given powers to the speaker. Therefore, I have the authority to adjourn the assembly's session after convening it for as many days as I want," he said while speaking to Geo News.

The development came hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan — after delibrations with the PTI political committee — directed speaker Asad Qaiser to convene the session for voting on the no-confidence motion on March 21.

Read more: Pakistan's political crisis deepens further as '24 PTI MNAs seek refuge in Sindh House'

Qaiser said that no one could challenge the legal authority of the speaker, adding: “I will not disclose the strategy [to counter no-trust motion] as it will be known to everyone when the time comes.”

As per rules, if the motion is tabled on March 21 then the voting on it would take place on March 28. 

Political chaos

Ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, around 24 members of the PTI have reportedly defected to the Opposition and will likely vote against the party policy.

Read more: Govt confirms contact with Opposition MNAs, rules out blackmail amid no-confidence motion

PTI's disgruntled MNA Raja Riaz had a day earlier claimed that if PM Imran Khan assures all MNAs that no action will be taken against those who decide to vote against him, they are ready to go back to the Parliament Lodges.

In light of the development, the prime minister has also directed the NA speaker to move the Election Commission of Pakistan against the dissidents and also take legal action against them.