No-trust motion against Pakistan’s premier submitted to parliament

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

The opposition alliance in Pakistan on Monday submitted a no-confidence motion in the lower house of parliament against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The motion signed by some 152 opposition members contending that the prime minister has lost the confidence of the parliament, was moved by the Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif amid the din of desk-beating and slogans during a stormy National Assembly session in the capital Islamabad.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who presided over the crucial assembly session, declared the motion valid after 161 lawmakers voted in favor of the move.

According to the Constitution, the voting on a no-confidence motion must be held within seven days once it is declared valid.

The session will reconvene on Thursday for a debate on the no-trust move.

Last-ditch efforts

The government and the opposition are making desperate attempts to woo the lawmakers ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion.

In a last-ditch effort, Khan himself is meeting his allies, who have shown a tilt towards the opposition parties.

Khan has been in the public for over two weeks holding rallies and meetings across the country.

The cricketer-turned-prime minister conceded a setback on Sunday when one of his ministers and leader of an allied party, Shahzain Bugti, resigned from the government and announced that he would support the opposition's no-trust motion.

At least 13 dissident lawmakers have already announced their support for the no-confidence motion.

Some political observers see the ruling party's rallies as a future election campaign as things, according to them, are moving towards fresh elections.

Others assert that the show of strength is for the "establishment," a term to designate the country's powerful military, which currently stands "neutral.”

The PTI leaders, however, contend that the party’s “massive show of strength" will force the dissidents to change their minds.

Opposition parties filed the no-confidence motion earlier this month, claiming Khan has lost his parliamentary majority.

The defection of dissident lawmakers and suggestions that coalition partners may join the opposition is said to have left Khan short of the minimum 172 seats needed for a simple majority in the 342-member parliament.

The government has also filed a court petition to determine whether dissident votes against the prime minister can be declared invalid.

Under the law, parliamentarians who defect could lose their seats if they choose to vote against their party.