PM Imran Khan must use all his tactics to fight the opposition in Parliament. But, should not take any step that will harm the system that will in turn jeopardise the nation.
The opposition has finally submitted a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly. It comes days after political consultations by the joint opposition or the so-called People’s Democratic Movement.
According to Article 95 (2) 1 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Speaker of the National Assembly is bound to convene a meeting of the National Assembly within seven days after the motion of no-confidence has been tabled in the National Assembly. The party has a total of 86 signatures in the National Assembly. The opposition needs 172 votes to win the no-confidence motion.
At present, the total number of opposition members in the National Assembly is 162. Thus, in general, the difference between the two groups is only 17 votes. But the opposition claims that it has the support of 25 members of the PTI’s allies.
In contrast, the government claims that the opposition will not be able to meet the 172 members and thus it will fail. However, with the introduction of no-confidence motion by the opposition in the National Assembly, a regular parliamentary war has started between the government and the opposition.
Whatever be the case, it is on the opposition to prove that PM Khan has lost the confidence of the National Assembly. Khan has a maximum of 21 days to defeat the motion.
Consultation process has started. Two days ago, three leaders of the opposition Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asif Ali Zardari met at the residence of Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad and discussed ‘imporatant’ issues related to the political situation in the country and the no-confidence motion. In this regard, PML-N chief and Leader of the Opposition Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that the no-confidence motion was a demand of the people and the opposition was abiding by the decision of the people.
“It is necessary to remove this government in order to revive the economy, save the people from inflation and provide relief. The government is responsible for inflation. It has employed wrong policies and decisions,” they said in the meeting. The trio is confident that the motion will pass in their favour.
What is worrying for Khan and PTI is the meeting of the “disgruntled” members of the ruling PTI National and Provincial Assemblies that was held at the residence of Jahangir Khan Tareen in Lahore. Such a meeting of the group leading up to the no-confidence motion could certainly be a source of concern for the government, as the Jahangir group is considered to have played a key role in the success or failure of the no-confidence motion.
Apart from 19 members of the Assembly, Abdul Aleem Khan also attended the meeting of the Jahangir Tareen group on Monday. According to Aleem, he has met about 40 members of parliament in the last three days. Aleem spoke about the policies of the government and especially the politics of Punjab.
According to Jahangir Tareen Group spokesman Salman Naeem, 20 members of the National Assembly and 50 members of the Provincial Assembly are with him. The senior leadership of PML-N has also contacted Aleem Khan.
The Jahangir Tareen group has become important as not only its own members are present in this group but about 50 members of the Assembly, who are dissatisfied with the ruling style of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar, and especially the attitude of Prime Minister Imran Khan, have also allegedly assured their support, while Aleem Khan factor also has an influence in Punjab. If all these come together against the government, it will be difficult for the government to survive.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also understands the nuances of the issue and is aware of its seriousness and he is using all means and tactics to break it together with his team.
On the one hand, they will have to make the angry members of the Assembly their allies, and on the other hand, they will have to take big decisions to provide relief to the sobbing people.
His ally Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s statement that “the situation is getting out of hand, the government should make a big decision” is not a just a message to the government but a warning.
PM Imran Khan must use all his tactics to fight the opposition in Parliament. But, should not take any step which will harm the system that will in turn jeopardise the nation.