Will Imran Khan Get 172 Confidence Votes From NA?
PDM leaders have maintained that they would not become part of the process as Shaikh’s defeat in the Senate ascertained loss of confidence in the premier
Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to have a walkover in the National Assembly (NA) today as he is going to take the vote of confidence after Abdul Hafeez Shaikh’s upsetting defeat in the Senate elections.
The political process looked tough until a day earlier when the opposition coalition, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), announced non-participation in the process.
Besides the PDM coalition, Jamat-e-Islami (JI) has also announced that it would not vote for Imran Khan. The NA session has been summoned under Article 91(7) of the constitution.
The tally shows Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government alliance collectively have 180 seats in the lower house whereas the opposition has 160. NA speaker would not be able to cast his vote.
Imran Khan will only require 172 votes in NA to claim confidence of the house.
PDM’s view
PDM leaders have maintained that they would not become part of the process as Shaikh’s defeat in the Senate ascertained loss of confidence in the premier.
Although Imran Khan is likely to get the required votes to get the no-confidence tag removed upon him, PDM believes the victory is going to pyrrhic.
Khan’s darning
A day before erstwhile-crucial session, Imran Khan chaired a meeting of lawmakers of his party and ruling alliance.
He received baffling support from fellows who pledged to be on Khan’s side during the voting process.
Meanwhile, the prime minister will require 172 votes to substantiate house still has confidence in him.
Imran Khan has also announced that those who swerved from the party’s policy while voting for Hafeez will get a ‘pardon’ if they sided with their party in the confidence motion.
Or else, he announced they would be ousted from the party right away.
The process
As per NA rules, after the commencement of the proceedings of the house, the speaker will ensure the attendance of the members by ringing bells for five minutes, after which all doors of the house will be closed so that no one could go in or out.
After reading the motion of confidence in the prime minister, the speaker will ask the members to register their votes.
The speaker will then call out the names of each member to ensure that they have registered their votes, following which all the members will be asked to wait in the lobbies of the hall.
After every member has registered their vote, the speaker will announce the completion of voting, and the NA secretary will count the votes and pass the result to the speaker.
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The speaker will then ring the bells again for two minutes so that the members present in the lobby may return to the assembly hall, following which the results will be announced.
The speaker will also inform the president in writing about the outcome of the resolution of confidence.
