Pakistan’s Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Monday tabled the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the lower House. This is a key development as the political fate of Imran Khan hangs in the balance amid the changing power equations, and sets in motion the process in the lower House to remove the embattled cricketer-turned-politician from office.
Amid the ongoing crisis, a cabinet member of Imran Khan’s government resigned hours after a no-confidence motion was tabled in the Pakistan National Assembly. Tariq Basheer Cheema, the federal minister for housing, is a PML-Q member from Bahawalpur. The lawmaker announced his decision to vote for the opposition’s no-confidence motion.
Troubles mounted for Khan as the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) parted ways with PTI. Clearing its stance on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly, BAP Parliamentary Leader Khalid Magsi on Monday said that the party will vote in favour of the motion. Deputy NA Speaker Qasim Suri, during the National Assembly session, asked the members of the Parliament who are in favour of the motion, to stand up so that the total number of supporting members of the motion could be counted. Asad Qaiser, Speaker of the National Assembly, while meeting the opposition leader shortly before the session, assured them that the session would be adjourned after the no-confidence motion is tabled, sources informed Geo News.
After the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was tabled in the National Assembly with a total of 161 votes in favour, the proceedings were adjourned till 31 March. Following the tabling of the resolution by Pakistan’s Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif on Monday, the Deputy Speaker announced that the debate on the resolution would begin on 31 March. “The session is adjourned until 4 pm on 31 March,” he said.
The session on the no-confidence motion was adjourned on Friday morning shortly after tributes were offered to Khayal Zaman, a member of the house from the ruling PTI who had recently passed away. The no-confidence motion was submitted on 8 March after the PPP’s long march in Islamabad. The Opposition is confident that its motion would be successful as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan. Adding to Khan’s woes, almost 20 members from his own party had recently sought refuge in the Sindh House in Islamabad, and none of them showed up to the National Assembly on Friday. The Pakistani National Assembly has a total strength of 342 members, with the majority mark being 172. The PTI led coalition was formed with the support of 179 members, with Imran Khan’s PTI having 155 members, and four major allies Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) having seven, five, five and three members respectively.
After Imran Khan, the Pakistan Opposition has now submitted a no-confidence motion against the chief minister of Punjab province in the Punjab Assembly. Geo TV reported on Monday that the Opposition has submitted the no-trust motion against chief minister Usman Buzdar.
Meanwhile. Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Monday said he does not have any information about the written letter received by Prime Minister Imran Khan that stated that money has been pouring in from abroad and some PTI members are trying to topple the government, Pakistan media reported. Addressing a press conference, Rasheed said the “written letter” provides evidence that “money has been pouring in from abroad,” Geo TV reported. “I have never seen any government complete its tenure; however, my perception has changed after the historic PTI rally was held yesterday, where the turnout of supporters was massive,” Rasheed was quoted as saying by Geo TV. “Imran Khan (Pakistani PM) is laying the foundation of an independent foreign policy,” he added. Rasheed said that he stands with the Pakistani PM. Earlier, regarding the no-trust motion, he said that if the motion is presented today, then the voting in the National Assembly will take place next Monday (4 April).