Vote of no-confidence against PM: procedures and challenges to opposition, govt
The lawmakers of the opposition parties have submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan to the National Assembly (NA) Secretariat which needs the support of a minimum of 172 legislators for its success.
The no-confidence motion against the prime minister was submitted after being signed by 86 lawmakers from the opposition parties, whereas, the opposition benches also submitted a requisition for summoning a session of the National Assembly (NA).
The no-confidence motion and requisition for the NA session were received by the additional secretary Muhammad Mushtaq at the NA Secretariat. Those who had submitted the no-confidence motion yesterday included Khawaja Saad Rafique, Ayaz Sadiq, Shazia Marri, Naveed Qamar, Rana Sanaullah, Aliya Kamran and Shahida Akhtar Ali.
The NA speaker is bound to summon a session of the National Assembly within 3 to 7 days after the submission of the no-confidence motion, according to the rules. The speaker is also bound to summon a session of the National Assembly within 14 days after the submission of a requisition.
The signatures of at least 20 per cent of lawmakers of the National Assembly are required to submit a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.
Vote of no-confidence; rules and procedure:
- A resolution for a vote of no-confidence moved by not less than twenty per centum of the total membership of the National Assembly may be passed against the Prime Minister by the National Assembly.
- A resolution referred to in clause (1) shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days, or later than seven days, from the day on which such resolution is moved in the National Assembly.
- A resolution referred to in clause (1) shall not be moved in the National Assembly while the National Assembly is considering demands for grants submitted to it in the Annual Budget Statement.
- If the resolution referred to in clause (1) is passed by a majority of the total membership of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister shall cease to hold office.
Challenges to govt, opposition
In the 342-seat National Assembly, the opposition needed to get the support of a minimum of 172 lawmakers for the success of the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan.
The opposition and treasury benches are claiming to have the required numbers for defeating each other.
However, after the formal progress on the no-trust move, both sides will now require to gain firm confidence of the lawmakers who are going to vote them in the crucial phase that will decide the fate of the prime minister.
The loyalties of the lawmakers from the treasury and opposition benches will be tested in the upcoming vote of no-confidence.
The government and opposition sides will keep a check on its lawmakers at least for the next seven days before the vote of no-confidence.
Moreover, the support of ally political parties and Jahangir Khan Tareen’s group will be crucial for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government in the coming phase.
