LAHORE    -   The Punjab Assembly has not yet fixed the dates for voting on the no-trust motions filed against Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi and Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Mohammad Mazari by the joint opposition and the ruling parties, respectively. The no-trust motion against the deputy speaker was filed on April 6 while the same against the speaker was filed the following day on April 7. According to Rule 12, sub-clause-2 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure, the no-trust motions should have been taken for voting on April 14 and 15 respectively, but since the Assembly had not yet completed its pending business relating to the election of the new chief minister, the voting on the no-trust motions should have been held immediately on any day after April 16 following election of the new chief minister. But the voting on the no-trust motions has been delayed until April 28 as Punjab Assembly Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi has called the next Assembly sitting on this date.

The speaker’s decision prima facie seems to be in violation of Rule 12 (2) of the Assembly Rules of Procedure. The Rule 12 (2) reads: “the motion for leave to move the resolution shall be entered in the name of the member concerned in the list of business for the first working day after the expiry of seven days of the receipt of the notice under sub-rule (1)”.