The united opposition in a late statement on Saturday “retreated” from its earlier threat to disrupt the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers moot, which is scheduled for March 22 and 23 in Islamabad, if National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser fails to table the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan by Monday (tomorrow).

In an evening press conference in Islamabad, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari demanded of the NA speaker to call the session on Monday so the proceeding of the no-confidence motion starts. He was accompanied by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal.

“If the session is not called or the no-confidence does not start after offering prayers and Fateha for the members who have passed away, then we will see how they are able to hold the OIC conference. The national and international situation demands the law, rules and constitution to be followed. If this does not happen, then we will keep sitting there until we do not get our right,” Bilawal had said.

PPP threatens Parliament sit-in unless no-trust vote is tabled on Monday

The statement had drawn criticism from the federal ministers and State Information Minister Farrukh Habib termed it an “irresponsible statement.”

The opposition’s soft tone after such a claim did not clearly indicate their plans to not hold the sit-in. But the subsequent statements read that the protest was against the premier and they wanted the OIC moot to be held in a “pleasant manner.”

“The 48th meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is an important event for the Muslim Ummah. The entire Opposition in general & the PML-N, in particular, extends a very welcome to our brothers and sisters from around the Islamic world. They are our esteemed guests,” Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet.

The tweet was followed by a joint opposition statement shared by the PML-N on Twitter. “The joint opposition warmly welcomes the foreign ministers, delegates and other dignitaries of the Islamic world to Pakistan on the occasion of the 48th meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. The arrival of distinguished guests is a source of joy and pride for us,” it read.

It added that the opposition would do their “utmost to create an atmosphere” in which the guests could carry out their assigned tasks with “full attention, dedication and dedication.” In order to welcome and honour the distinguished guests of OIC, the united opposition has changed the dates of the protest and directed its workers not to come to Islamabad before March 25.

“Pakistan’s internal political situation and political turmoil will not be allowed to affect the OIC in any way,” it read, “We hope that the stay of esteemed guests in Islamabad will be pleasant and they will return home with good memories.”

Apart from the criticism, the government officials had also urged the opposition to not sabotage the OIC summit. The OIC was constituted by former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and paid a huge price for it, Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said in a statement shared by APP.

“Bilawal should avoid such statements at a time when OIC’s foreign ministers’ summit was about to be held here in Islamabad because such statements could harm not only the interests of Pakistan but the entire Muslim world,” he added.

Bilawal spokesperson’s clarification

In an apparent move to smother the heat emerged after the PPP chairperson’s statement, Bilawal spokesperson Zulfikar Ali Bader also issued a clarification of sorts in a series of tweets.

He said that Bilawal’s pertaining to the reaction on the delay of tabling the motion was not against the OIC but the incumbent government, which was “trying to escape” from the vote.

“We will not allow celebrating April fool day. The government will be sent packing in March or else there will be Dama Dam Mast Qalandar,” Bader said, adding that the premier’s apparent attempt to hide under the banner of the OIC summit would be against the goal of the regional moot.

“No-confidence motion is a democratic and constitutional right and it cannot be taken away from us under the guise of anything. PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s agenda is only Pakistan,” it read.

The assembly does not take up any agenda on the first sitting held after the death of any lawmaker, according to the legislative business.

Moreover, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Friday said the government has decided to file a reference in the Supreme Court for interpretation of Article 63 (A), which relates to disqualification of lawmakers on grounds of defection, as dissident parliamentarians from the ruling party take ‘refuge’ in the Sindh House in Islamabad. However, there were reports on Saturday that Law Minister Farogh Naseem has reportedly refused to promulgate an ordinance that would disqualify the dissident lawmakers for at least five years.