ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's joint opposition parties on Saturday backtracked on their threat to disrupt the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) summit next week if a no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan was delayed, saying the country's ongoing political turmoil would not be allowed to impact the scheduled event.
The opposition, which blames Khan for mismanaging the country, economy and foreign policy, filed the no-confidence motion against him on March 8.
In accordance with the law, the National Assembly speaker has a maximum of 14 days to summon a session of parliament to table the no-trust vote resolution. Monday is the last day.
The opposition issued the statement hours after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned of a sit-in at the National Assembly, the venue of the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers scheduled to begin on Tuesday, if the no-trust resolution was not placed on the parliamentary agenda by Monday.
"The joint opposition changed the dates of the long march and asked its workers not to arrive in Islamabad before March 25 to welcome OIC dignitaries," it said in a statement circulated on Saturday night. "Pakistan's internal political situation and ongoing turmoil will not be allowed to affect the OIC conference. We hope the stay of the esteemed guests in Islamabad will be pleasant and they return with good memories."
The opposition promised to do it best to create an atmosphere that will help the OIC delegates perform their duties with "full attention, dedication and determination."
"Representing the people of Pakistan, the joint opposition assures the distinguished OIC guests that the whole nation welcomes them on their arrival," the statement continued.
It also applauded OIC countries for raising important issues facing the Muslim world, including the situation in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Palestine.
Earlier in the day, the opposition threatened to disrupt the summit.
"If the speaker of the National Assembly does not present the no-confidence motion on Monday, then I would recommend to my party, to the opposition parties that we will not get up from the hall," the PPP chairman told reporters.
"We will then see how your OIC conference takes place."
The summit on March 22-23 will be the second OIC meeting in Islamabad within a few months.
In December, 70 delegations from OIC member states, non-members and regional and international organizations attended the 17th Extraordinary Session of the OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers called by Saudi Arabia and hosted by Pakistan to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
