ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan faced a defeat in the National Assembly during no-confidence move. A total of 174 MNAs supported the no-confidence move against requirement of 172 MNAs for the success of this move.
Imran Khan is the first prime minister in the history of National Assembly who is ousted from power through a no-confidence move.
With this development, opposition leader Mian Shahbaz Sharif is set to become new Prime Minister as a majority of MNAs has voted out Imran Khan as Prime Minister.
PML(N) leader, who acted as speaker of the National Assembly, announced the result at 1 am on Sunday. Ayaz Sadiq conducted the proceedings of the parliament in the absence of Speaker Asad Qaisar and Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri who announced their resignations ahead of no-trust move. While announcing his resignation, NA Speaker requested PML(N) leader Ayaz Sadiq to conduct the proceedings of the National Assembly as per the constitution and hold voting on no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Fifteen minutes before midnight, Ayaz Sadiq announced voting on no-confidence move in the parliament. A majority of the PTI MNAs did not participate in the no-confidence move. PTI dissidents did not vote for the no-confidence move to avoid disqualification as the opposition has support of a majority of MNAs.
After announcing the no-trust move result, NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq asked opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif to express his views about the defeat of Imran Khan.
As the PTI government and the Speaker have delayed the no-trust move against PM throughout Friday (till midnight) and announced resignation, the Chief Justice of Pakistan and other members of five-member bench of the apex court have reached the Supreme Court a few minutes ago to take up contempt of court against NA Speaker and others for the government’s failure to take up no-confidence move before midnight today.
Importantly, the session of National Assembly was adjourned four times today just because of delaying tactics of the PTI government and NA Speaker.
Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association has filed a contempt of court petition with the Supreme Court a few minutes ago anticipating that the government may not hold vote of confidence today.
Speculations are being spread through the social media today as a result of which Prime Minister himself has rejected the rumours of termination of army chief and his resignation before no-confidence move in the Parliament.
Meanwhile, a petition has also been filed with the Islamabad High Court late Friday night to block any possible unconstitutional decision by the PTI government.
Security has also been tightened in the red zone as the no-trust move has been delayed beyond expectations of everyone in the country.
National Assembly session is likely to hold voting on no-confidence motion to decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan in line with Supreme Court’s verdict.
NA Speaker Asad Qaiser chaired the session which began at 10:30am sharp, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directives, and with the recitation of the Holy Quran. It was followed by the national anthem and Fatiha.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has arrived in the Parliament House and security outside his chamber has also been beefed up. Meanwhile, the PM has also called senior journalists to the Prime Minister’s Residence.
