Government plots plans to counter opposition’s no-trust motion

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has formed a plan to thwart the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan as ‘more than 99 percent of PTI members are set to not attend the National Assembly session’ convened on the opposition’s requisition.

According to media reports, only one member of PTI will attend the session while it was decided that members be told not to attend the session when the voting on the no-confidence motion will be held.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Thursday said that National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser had the right to disqualify members who “crossed floor” in the lower house. He said that all political parties gave the right to the speaker in the 18th Amendment in an attempt to stop horse-trading. He further warned that members who defied the party line would be “politically surrounded”. Rasheed further said that the week from March 23 to 30 will be an important one.

The joint opposition parties submitted a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday along with a requisition for the National Assembly session to be held in the regard. According to the constitution, the speaker is bound to convene a session of the National Assembly within 14 days, which will complete on March 22.