The combined opposition including the PPP, PML-N and JUI-F have decided to submit the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly today, including the requisition for the NA session to take up the motion.
PML-N's Ayaz Sadiq, Khwaja Saad Rafique and Marriyum Aurangzeb along with PPP's Shazia Marri submitted the motion and the requisition to the NA speaker. The speaker now has a maximum of 14 days to call a session to take up the no-confidence move against PM Imran, reported Aaj News.
Draft finalised
The draft for the no-confidence motion against against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was reportedly finalised on Monday after Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif met PPP President Asif Zardari for a "delegation-level" at the Zardari House in Islamabad on Monday.
Citing sources, local publications reported that the draft for the move had been finalized and ready for submission but the the decision whether to table the no-confidence motion against the prime minister or the National Assembly speaker would be taken at the last moment.
The move, which has been months in the making, finally comes as the PPP's Awami March led by party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari enters Islamabad after leaving Karachi on February 27.
During that time, the opposition had increased efforts to de-seat incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan, including a flurry of activity that saw opposition members hold talks with key government allies including the PML-Q and the PTI breakaway faction led by Aleem Khan and Jehangir Tareen.
While it is still not clear on which side the dominoes will fall, with disgruntled coalition partners of the PTI-led government not commiting their support to either the government or the opposition.
The frequency of contact between leaders of the opposition parties and their decision to approach the government’s allies raised the political temperature, with some analysts suggesting that it forced the government's hand to announce some popular measures to keep the allies as well as the public opinion at their side.
The move coupled with the PPP’s long march was so strong that the prime minister himself had to come on the forefront to address grievances of his party lawmakers and the allies’ reservations on the runaway inflation.
Number Game
As things stands, there are currently 340 members in the 342-member National Assembly.
The ruling PTI has 156 seats with its allies having 22 seats. The breakdown of the number of seats in the NA is as follows:
The government has the support of 178 members.
Opposition seats in NA
PML-N - 84PPP - 56MMA - 15BNP - 4ANP - 1Independents - 2 (Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar)
The opposition has the support of 164 lawmakers
The issue isn't limited to the Centre as there is discontent over Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar's performance, with allies led by the Aleem Khan and Jehangir Tareen factions with the support of PML-Q seeking his removal.
Punjab Assembly
PTI - 183PML-Q - 10Total: 193 seats
Opposition in PA
PML-N - 165 PPP - 7 Total: 172 seats
Others
Independent lawmakers - 5Rah-e-Haq Party - 1
