After a two-day delay in parliament, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif tabled in the National Assembly a no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri presided over the session.
Shehbaz Sharif, who is the leader of the Opposition presented the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“I will request that you (Suri) give permission to present this item in the house … as the resolution was already on the agenda,” he said addressing the NA deputy speaker.
As many as 161 lawmakers voted in favor of the no-confidence motion. Following the counting of the members who stood up in favor of the motion, the deputy speaker approved a discussion on the no-confidence motion. It will take place on Thursday, March 31, at 4 pm. However, the voting on the resolution is expected to take place between April 1-4.
A resolution to move a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan has been moved in Pakistan's National Assembly – the vote will have to be called no earlier than 3 days and no later than 7 days which means that the farthest date the vote can take place is April 4
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) March 28, 2022
No-confidence motion
March 8, the Opposition submitted the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly Secretariat. This makes PM Khan the second sitting prime minister in Pakistan’s history to face the no-confidence motion.
Additionally, the opposition had also filed a requisition notice seeking a session of the lower house of Parliament to table the no-trust move.
A total of 86 lawmakers from the Opposition parties signed the no-confidence motion. JUI-F’s Shahida Akhtar Ali, PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, and PPP’s Naveed Qamar and Shazia Marri submitted the no-trust motion for a session to the NA Secretariat.
Read more: Opposition covering up its failure with no-trust move: Farrukh
Important to note, with the no-trust move, the Opposition plans to oust the PTI government. As a result, Pakistan’s political atmosphere has been brimming with serious activity. Moreover, the Opposition has reached out to both PTI government allies and estranged PTI MNAs to complete the numbers.
تحریک عدم اعتماد قومی اسمبلی سیکر ٹریٹ میں جمع ہو چکی ہے ، اہم بات یہ ہے کہ اب وزیراعظم اسمبلی برخواست نہیں کر سکتے۔ pic.twitter.com/wa1l3RNZ37
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) March 8, 2022
Only 1 past instance of no confidence motion against a sitting Prime Minister.
Benazir Bhutto in April 1989. She survived the no confidence motion by 12 votes.
Imran Khan is the 2nd PM in Pakistani history to face a no confidence motion.
— Naveed Nadeem (@naveednadeem91) March 8, 2022
PTI vows to remain strong
On the other hand, the PTI government still remains confident that the no-trust move will fail. Moreover, SAPM Dr. Shahbaz Gill told media that it is a welcoming move as it will expose the Opposition.
“We are happy that they submitted the no-confidence motion,” Dr. Shahbaz Gill said,”They came on their own terms but will leave on our terms”.
Furthermore, he asserted that the government will put up a strong fight that will become a lesson for the Opposition. Similarly, other PTI leaders have also expressed confidence.
Read more: Opposition pins hope for no-trust move on PTI members?
“The government is not going away but it is getting stronger than before. This is the last attack by the opposition,” Faisal Javed Khan tweeted.
حکومت جا نہیں رہی بلکہ پہلے سے زیادہ مظبوط ہونے جا رہی ہے-یہ اپوزیشن کی آخری واردات ہے-اپوزیشن ایسا کرش ہونے جارہی ہے کہ 2028 تک آٹھ نہیں سکے گی – سب ہمارے ساتھ ہیں – کوئی چوروں اور ڈاکوؤں کے ساتھ نہیں- ملک کو آگے لیکر جانا ہے واپس چوروں کے حوالے نہیں کرنا- شکست اپوزیشن کامقدرہے pic.twitter.com/KXXPAvPLEH
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) March 8, 2022
Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said there is only one leader in Pakistan.
“There is only one leader in this country. Imran Khan, all dwarfs should work together. Defeat is once again the future of political dwarfs,” the minister tweeted.
اس ملک کا ایک ہی لیڈر ہے۔۔ عمران خان، سب بونے مل کر زور لگا لیں شکست ایک بار پھر سیاسی بونوں کا مستقبل ہے۔۔۔۔
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 8, 2022