ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Sunday the speaker of Pakistan’s lower house of parliament would decide after March 15 when to convene a session on the no-confidence vote against the prime minister.
Pakistan’s leading opposition parties announced last month they would topple the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government by filing a vote of no-confidence against him in parliament. Last week, opposition legislators formally submitted the motion with the National Assembly.
The political temperature in the country has been on the rise since, with the prime minister looking to court disgruntled legislators from within his party and strengthen his ties with coalition partners, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) and the Karachi-based Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) before the important vote gets underway.
Both the opposition and the government say they have the required numbers to win the no-confidence vote.
“God willing, after March 15, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s position will be further strengthened,” Ahmed said, speaking at a ceremony organized by the Women Business Forum in Islamabad.
“It is up to the speaker to decide when he wants to convene the session [of the National Assembly] and he will make that decision after March 15,” he said, adding that the speaker’s decision cannot be challenged by anyone.
Referring to the government’s allies, Ahmed said friends should “offer their support” in difficult times. “I am standing with Imran Khan like a rock,” he said.
The minister also spoke about women’s empowerment at the event, urging the Women Business Forum to create opportunities for women from Pakistan’s Sindh, Balochistan and other provinces where poverty was rife and opportunities were scarce.
“I want you to expand and open more bazaars. The entire city of Islamabad is an open field. Whatever you think you can improve, we are ready to provide you [with the necessary tools] for that,” he said.
Speaker to decide on convening parliamentary session on no-confidence vote after March 15 — interior minister
https://arab.news/cevqv
Speaker to decide on convening parliamentary session on no-confidence vote after March 15 — interior minister
- Opposition parties have filed a motion of no-confidence against PM Imran Khan
- After March 15, Khan’s position will be strengthened, says interior minister
Pakistan raises fuel prices by Rs55 per liter as Middle East conflict drives oil surge
- Government says adequate fuel stocks in place despite global energy shock
- Oil prices jump from about $78 to over $106 per barrel amid regional conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter each as escalating conflict in the Middle East sent global oil prices sharply higher and disrupted energy supply routes, officials said.
Global oil markets have been rattled since coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran began last week, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region, raising fears of disruption to key energy shipping routes and pushing petroleum prices sharply upward.
The price adjustment in Pakistan was announced after a joint press conference by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who said the government was monitoring international energy markets and domestic supply conditions amid the crisis.
“So, the decision we have made by changing the levy a little bit is that we are going ahead with increasing the price of both fuels, petrol and diesel, by Rs55 ($0.20),” Malik told reporters.
“And as soon as this matter settles, we will revise the prices downward with the same speed and take steps on how to increase people’s income and purchasing power.”
He said Pakistan entered the crisis with “comfortable energy reserves” due to earlier planning but rising global prices had forced the government to adjust domestic fuel rates to maintain supply continuity.
He said international petrol prices had climbed from roughly $78 per barrel on March 1 to around $106.8 per barrel, while diesel prices had risen to about $150 per barrel.
Malik added that the government had taken steps to minimize the burden on consumers, noting diesel plays a critical role in agriculture, transportation and public mobility.
Malik also warned that authorities would take strict action against anyone attempting to hoard fuel or manipulate supply for profiteering.
The minister said Pakistan was working with international partners to secure additional energy supplies, including arrangements with Saudi Aramco and the use of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessels to transport crude oil imports.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said a high-level government committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been meeting daily to review developments in global petroleum markets and their potential impact on Pakistan’s economy.
“Pakistan currently maintains adequate energy stocks and macroeconomic stability,” Aurangzeb said, adding that the government’s response was based on preparedness rather than panic.
He said the committee, which includes senior ministers, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and other officials, was assessing short-, medium- and long-term implications of the crisis for inflation, foreign exchange reserves and broader economic indicators.
Deputy PM Dar said the regional conflict had significantly disrupted global energy markets, with international petroleum prices rising by as much as 50–70 percent in recent days.
The deputy prime minister added that Pakistan was also engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region.
Petroleum prices will now be reviewed more frequently, potentially on a weekly basis, and any reduction in global oil prices would be passed on to consumers.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported fuel to meet its energy needs, is particularly vulnerable to global oil price shocks that can quickly feed into inflation and pressure the country’s external accounts.
