As the government and opposition engage in last-minute efforts ahead of the no-confidence move that the opposition is expected to requisition in the next few days, the PPP and PML-N have directed its members of the National Assembly not to travel abroad as part of any foreign delegations and to be available in Islamabad.
The directives are based on reports that the government is planning to include opposition MNAs in official delegations going abroad.
“Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed all MNAs of the party to remain in Islamabad,” PPP Information Secretary Shazia Atta Marri said on Sunday.
Similarly, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said that party members would not be part of any foreign tour nominated by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, reported The News.
“PML-N MNAs have been barred from travelling abroad at expenses from the national exchequer. We hope sensible members of the PTI will also refuse to be part of the tours,” she reportedly added.
Islamabad convergence
As the opposition amps up efforts for the ouster of incumbent PM Imran Khan, members of the joint opposition continued their march towards the federal capital Islamabad.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, who is already in Islamabad, has reportedly instructed other leaders to reach the capital to attend a parliamentary party meeting at the residence of Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Three time premier and former party head Nawaz Sharif is expected to address the meeting in which decision will be taken whether to table the motion against the speaker or the premier.
Meanwhile, the PPP calvacade - the Awami March - is expected to arrive In Islamabad as scheduled on March 8. However, the local administration is yet to grant permission to the PPP to hold a public meeting at the famous D-Chowk, right in front of the Parliament House building on the Constitution Avenue. It is the same spot where PTI held its 126-day long protest in 2014.
Meanwhile, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, Khwaja Saad Rafique and former Speaker Ayaz Sadiq were given a task to meet PTI parliamentarians, who were ready to support the opposition.
