PESHAWAR: The leader of the opposition in National Assembly Mian Shahbaz Sharif has tabled the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday.
After the no-confidence motion was moved, members were counted where the ruling coalition and “angry” members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were not present in the house.
Earlier, before the start of the important session of the National Assembly, Speaker Asad Qaiser assured the opposition that he will conduct the session in accordance with the rules. Chaired by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, the agenda of the meeting consists of 27 points, including a no-confidence motion to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office.
Read more:
Opposition likely to table no-trust motion against PM
Sheikh Rashid, ‘Have advised PM to call elections after budget’
No-confidence vote: JUIF hopes MQM will support opposition
Before the session, parliamentary party meeting of opposition parties was held in the Parliament House in connection with the no-confidence motion to formulate strategy for today’s meeting of the National Assembly. It was decided that there will be no supplementary question during ‘Question Hour’ session and efforts will be made to expedite the process on the no-confidence motion.
The no-trust motion against the Prime Minister has the signatures of 152 members. The motion needs the support of 172 members for its success but the opposition claims that it has the support of more than the required number of members.
There are 341 seats in National Assembly, of which 178 are held by the government and its allies against 163 opposition members. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has 155 members in the House, while its enjoys the support of seven Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNAs, five members of Balochistan Awami Party, five members of PML-Q, three members of Grand Democratic Alliance and one member of APML.
Similarly, PML-N has 84 members MNAs, 56 members of PPP, 15 members of MMA, 4 members of Balochistan National Party, one member each of ANP and Jamhoori Watan Party while two independent MNAs.
Meanwhile, representatives of opposition parties called on Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser and discussed the rules of the National Assembly session. According to sources, the speaker assured to hold the meeting in accordance with the constitution and said that a no-confidence motion would be tabled today and voting would held within a week.