ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday voting on a no-confidence motion filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan was expected early next month as the opposition continues to press the National Assembly speaker for the crucial vote.
Opposition parties filed the no-confidence motion against Khan on March 8, saying the prime minister had lost his parliamentary majority after over a dozen defections by party lawmakers. The opposition blames PM Khan for the deteriorating economy, a flawed foreign policy and poor governance in the country.
Pakistan's National Assembly met briefly on Friday but Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session without taking up the no-trust motion after prayers were offered for a lawmaker, who had passed away recently. As per parliamentary tradition, in the event of the death of a lawmaker, the session is adjourned after offering prayers for the deceased on the first session held after the death. Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislator Khayal Zaman Orakzai passed away last month from liver disease.
The session has been adjourned till Monday, March 28. According to the rules, voting on a no-trust resolution must be held within seven days after it has been laid before the National Assembly.
“If the no-confidence motion is tabled on March 28 then that day will not be counted, which means voting would be held on April 3 or 4,” Ahmed said at a press briefing in Islamabad on Saturday.
“God willing, Imran Khan will be successful and our allied parties will decide in our favor,” he said, promising to provide "complete protection" to the opposition members.
The government’s coalition partners, however, have not formally announced their support either for the ruling party or the opposition alliance.
The opposition requires at least 172 votes in the 342-member National Assembly to topple PM Khan’s government. The current party position in the lower house of parliament shows the opposition collectively has 162 members, while the government enjoys the support of 179 lawmakers, including its coalition partners.
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has accused the opposition of bribing its lawmakers to vote against PM Khan.
“Seven days are important from March 28 till April 4 in Pakistan’s politics. The whole world is focusing on Pakistan and the interior ministry will be open 24 hours and we are keeping an eye on the law and order,” Ahmed said.
"We will keep roads open for all parties, but won't allow anyone to stop in another’s way. Let's be clear on this."
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) opposition parties have begun marching towards Islamabad for their anti-government rallies and are expected to reach the capital on March 28.
PM Khan has also invited Pakistanis to attend a rally in support of his government, which is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on March 27.
The interior minister said the government would not allow any party to stage a sit-in in the capital and no one would be allowed to enter its Red Zone, a heavily protected area and home to major government offices and foreign embassies.
He said the government had not yet called in the Pakistan Army troops to help the police maintain law and order.
“The interior ministry can call in the army after the prime minister and the cabinet’s approval under Article 245 of the constitution,” Ahmed said, hoping that would not be needed.
The interior minister once again suggested holding early elections in the country.
“I have suggested Khan that we should call elections after presenting the federal budget for the fiscal year [2022-23],” he said, adding PM Khan’s popularity had increased after the opposition filed the no-confidence motion.
Ahmed, however, clarified it was his personal opinion to hold an early election and not the ruling party's.
He also vowed that Jam Abdul Karim, a National Assembly member from the opposition's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), would be apprehended on arrival in Pakistan.
MNA Karim was nominated in a murder case. According to reports, the PPP lawmaker is currently in Dubai and would return home to vote on the no-trust motion.
“Jam Karim is coming from Dubai to cast vote,” Ahmed said. "I spoke to the IG (inspector-general) Sindh over the phone. We would arrest him (Karim) and hand over to the Sindh police."
