Pakistan parliament delays no-trust motion against PM Khan

Islamabad, Mar 25 (EFE).- The lower of Pakistan’s parliament Friday delayed the opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan,

National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session until Monday afternoon without tabling the motion filed by the joint opposition.

“On the motion of vote of no-confidence, I will conduct it as per the constitution and rules of the assembly,” Qaiser said in his live televised remarks.

An alliance of opposition parties, called the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM), submitted the no-trust motion against Khan on Mar.8.

As per the rules, the speaker needed to call a session on the motion within 14 days.

He, however, called it on almost three weeks later, sparking violating the rules allegations.

The Friday session was adjourned after prayers for a deceased member, Khayal Zaman, who died last month.

The National Assembly secretariat Thursday issued a 15-point order of the day for the current session, which also included the no-confidence motion.

More than a dozen lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have spoken against the government, blaming Khan for not delivering on the promises made before the elections.

The party has served them show-cause notices asking them to explain their position.

Khan’s coalition partners have not announced their support to anyone so far. Opposition leaders have also approached ruling allies to rally support against him.

The government has approached the Supreme Court through a presidential reference, seeking its opinion if dissident votes against Khan can be declared invalid.

As per the constitution, a member can be disqualified if they switch allegiance.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial is hearing the case.

Khan and his cabinet ministers have alleged that the opposition had bribed their estranged lawmakers to switch allegiances.

Khan needs 172 votes in the 342-member house to get a simple majority to stay in office. His party has 155 seats, while his coalition partners have 23 members in the House.

In a video message Thursday, Khan called on his supporters and party workers to join him in a rally in Islamabad on Sunday in a show of power amid opposition calls for his resignation.

The opposition has also called a public rally on Monday in the capital. EFE

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