Opposition claims to have support of 202 NA lawmakers.
Shahbaz, Zardari, Fazl to address press conference shortly.
86 Opposition lawmakers parties sign no-confidence motion.
ISLAMABAD: The Opposition has submitted the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly Secretariat, Geo News reported Tuesday, citing PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb.
A total of 86 lawmakers from the Opposition parties have signed the no-confidence motion, sources said. JUI-F’s Shahida Akhtar Ali, PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique and PPP’s Naveed Qamar and Shazia Marri submitted the no-trust motion and requisition for a session to the NA Secretariat.
Read more:The numbers game of no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan
Meanwhile, the three bigwig Opposition leaders — PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N’s Shahbaz, and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman — will address a press conference later today, sources said.
In a major development, former senior minister Punjab Aleem Khan joined Jahangir Khan Tareen’s PTI faction a day earlier as he had reservations with the prime minister, but did not specify whom will the group support once the no-confidence motion is moved.
Current numbers
Government:
PTI — 155
MQM-P — 7
PML-Q — 5
BAP — 5
GDA — 3
Independent — 2
AML — 1
JWP — 1
Total: 179
Opposition
PML-N — 84
PPP — 56
MMA — 15
BNP-M — 4
Independent — 2
ANP — 1
Total: 162
Opposition claims to have the numbers
The Opposition is confident of having the numbers to remove PM Imran Khan, sources said, adding that they are claiming of having the support of 202 National Assembly members.
The Opposition has claimed that they have the backing of 28 PTI lawmakers and others from an ally of the government, sources said.
At least 16 PTI lawmakers have the support of PML-N, four with PPP, and two with JUI-F, sources said.
Meanwhile, six more members from the PTI are in contact with the PML-N, sources said.
Read more:Top PTI leaders seek Usman Buzdar’s dismissal as CM Punjab: sources
PM Imran Khan meets AGP
Prime Minister Imran Khan summoned the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) at the Prime Minister’s House to discuss legal aspects as the Opposition tabled the no-trust move against him. According to sources, the AGP briefed the premier regarding the legal implications of the move.
PTI vows to defeat no-trust motion
In a consultative meeting after the submission of the no-trust motion, the ruling party vowed to foil the Opposition’s bid to de-seat PM Imran Khan.
The huddle, attended by the PM and federal ministers, including Asad Umar and Shafqat Mehmood, was informed that all the party members and allies are united under Imran Khan’s leadership.
Read more: PPP’s ‘Awami March’ heads for Islamabad with clock ticking on Bilawal’s ultimatum to PM Imran
It was decided that the prime minister will visit MQM-P’s office in Karachi.
“Opposition will be defeated and we are not scared of no-trust motion,” PM Imran Khan told the participants.
He said that the government is focused on performance.
Jahangir Tareen group also holds meeting
A key player in the Punjab riddle, the Jahangir Khan Tareen group, also held its meeting today with their leader chairing the session through a video link from London.
Tareen is in the UK for medical treatment for the last couple of weeks but holding regulation meetings with his loyal parliamentarians after both the government and the Opposition sought their support for a no-trust move.
Speaking to the media after the group’s meeting, convened to discuss the no-confidence motion tabled in the National Assembly, Punjab MPA Nauman Langrial said they will only be held on minus-Buzzdar formula.
Answering a question about their nominee for the new Punjab chief minister, after the removal of Usman Buzdar, Langrial said Tareen will decide the matter.
Langarial said that the faction has given the authority for all the decisions to Jahangir Tareen. “We have also told Aleem Khan that he will have to abide by the decisions of Tareen. There will be no disagreement on his decision.”
He said that the faction has been contacted by various parties.
“Every member of the Tareen group agrees that talks can only proceed if the minus-Buzdar formula is adopted.
The MPA said that the group has come up with a mandate, and is thinking well for the nation and PTI.
He further said that Tareen will decide whether Aleem Khan will be the chief minister or not.
‘Army stands with me’
Speaking to a select group of YouTubers today, the prime minister said he was confident that the government was not going anywhere and that this was the Opposition’s last move.
“After this, nothing will happen against this government till 2028 […] Opposition will face a humiliating defeat,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister said he knows Jahangir Tareen — who has had sour ties with the PTI — and he would never support “thieves”.
“My lawmakers are being offered Rs180 million [for supporting no-confidence motion]. I told them to take the money and distribute it among the poor.”
PM Imran Khan said CM Buzdar was an easy target, and that’s why he was being targeted.
Endorsing the PTI leaders’ narrative of international conspiracy behind Imran Khan’s removal, the premier said people who do not want an independent foreign policy would support the no-confidence motion.
The Opposition’s heightened activities are backed by money, he claimed.
“The army stands with me, it will never support thieves […] and since the people are not backing the Opposition anymore, they are claiming that the establishment is supporting them,” he said.
“A mind game is going on right now, and I am a master at it,” he said.
While addressing at a ceremony in Rawalpindi’s Fatima Jinnah University earlier today, PM Imran Khan had said he was ready for everything the Opposition throws at him.
“The powerful desires NRO and threaten to topple the government if they don’t get it but I will not give them that as long as I am alive,” PM Imran Khan said.
“Once again, I make it loud and clear that I will not extend the gang of thieves and dacoits any relief in the shape of NRO (national reconciliation ordinance),” he said.
PML-N lawmakers told to stay in Islamabad
Separately, a PML-N parliamentary party meeting was held earlier today where the party president, Shahbaz Sharif, had announced the plan for submitting the no-confidence motion.
During the meeting, PML-N lawmakers were asked to remain in Islamabad for at least 20 days, sources said. The party members were warned that their absence during the tabling of the no-confidence motion would not be tolerated.
‘100% sure’ of success
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Opposition leaders at Zardari Hosue a day earlier, PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah said he was “100%” sure that the no-confidence motion against the government would be successful.
“We will soon be relieved of this curse; the leaders will announce the decisions that were made today,” the former provincial minister said.
Following his removal as prime minister in 2022, Khan started a protest movement against a coalition of his enemies led by current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Since then, he has been in jail since August 2023 and has been involved in hundreds of cases.
In response to ARY News’ question over the congressmen’s letter during a media briefing in Washington on Monday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, “We will respond in due course to the members.”
The United States wants to see Pakistan maintain its democracy, Miller stated.
The release of the PTI founder’s wife and sisters was a result of a meeting between the US Deputy Assistant Secretary and a Pakistani government representative in Islamabad, which was further questioned during the press briefing.
“I won’t be addressing that,” Miller said when asked if the United States was involved in their release. Miller did, however, affirm that the conference included the defense of Pakistan’s basic liberties and rights.
Sixty-two members of the US Congress urged President Joe Biden on October 24 to support the release of Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, and other political prisoners.
The congressmen, who included well-known Muslim members Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, said in their letter that the Biden administration should ask Pakistani authorities to guarantee the safety of PTI founder Imran Khan.
They also underlined that US policy should concentrate on Pakistan’s human rights situation and asked that US ambassadors attend the PTI leader’s incarceration.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), recently met, and the inside story of their conversation has revealed important political developments.
The leaders talked about a variety of constitutional and governance matters, including the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, according to sources.
One of the primary outcomes of the conference was the decision to expeditiously introduce a bill in parliament that would increase the number of judges on the Supreme Court. Immediately after it is introduced in parliament, this law is expected to be approved in a matter of days.
In addition, the recently ratified 26th Constitutional Amendment was discussed, with particular attention paid to creating a system for the establishment of constitutional benches at the federal and provincial levels. The formation of constitutional benches would be the subject of formal meetings, they agreed.
Furthermore, the leaders examined the pending measure concerning the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) municipal authority, which has been sent to the appropriate committee for additional assessment.
They also discussed the implementation of an agreement on Punjabi issues between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). According to sources, the conference also discussed the status of an agreement over fund release and administrative jobs in Punjab.
Bilawal Bhutto was reassured by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the federal government would continue to support continued development initiatives in Sindh.
PM Sharif and Bilawal met on Sunday at the premier’s Model Town home in Lahore, where they talked about the newly ratified 26th Constitutional Amendment and pledged to support Pakistan’s parliamentary system and democracy.
As a historic step, Bilawal Bhutto celebrated the 26th Constitutional Amendment’s adoption during the meeting. He said: “We will work together to strengthen democracy and parliament.”
In agreement, Shehbaz credited the amendment’s accomplishment to the combined efforts of all coalition members. He promised that his commitment to the people would not falter and reiterated his commitment to public service.
Ayub maintained that Bushra Bibi, the former first lady, endured nine months of imprisonment with fortitude, and that her recent release, like that of Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, was not the outcome of any political agreement with the government.
He also asserted that the poor treatment of PTI’s founder, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail on what Ayub refers to as fabricated charges, includes substandard food, water, and electricity interruptions.
Moreover, Ayub observed that the PTI leader, similar to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has experienced a decrease in platelet levels but has refrained from pursuing exile abroad.
Ayub expressed optimism for judicial impartiality and commended the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for his recent appointment, characterizing him as knowledgeable and impartial. However, he also voiced his criticism of the government for purportedly implementing an unconstitutional draft.
He declared that the 26th constitutional amendment was passed by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) through forgery.
Ayub also declared that opposition parties will be launching a movement against the current government in the near future, reiterating PTI’s alliance with Maulana Fazlur Rehman.