ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has secured majority votes to win the vote of confidence today (Saturday) after a recent Senate upset.
The resolution reposing confidence in the Prime Minister was passed with 178 votes. Announcing the results, the NA Speaker said consequently the Prime Minister has obtained the vote of confidence and commands the majority of the Lower House.
Speaker Asad Qaiser announced the results amidst the thumping of desks and slogans by the members of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) and its allied parties as well as the party supporters present in the lobbies.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi presented the resolution asking for a vote of confidence from the lawmakers in the lower house of the Parliament. The resolution states, “This House reposes confidence in the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, as required under clause (7) of Article 91 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, the Opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), is boycotting the NA session. The session started at 12:15pm with a recitation from the Holy Quran and a naat. Later, the national anthem was played in the House at which all lawmakers stood up in respect.
After reading out the resolution, the NA speaker directed the legislators who wanted to cast a vote to make their way to another chamber inside the lower house in order for their votes to be recorded.
Imran Khan is the second Prime Minister in the history of Pakistan who is going to the National Assembly for a ‘voluntary’ vote of confidence. Earlier, Nawaz Sharif had sought a voluntary vote of confidence from the Parliament after his reinstatement was granted by the Supreme Court in 1993.
Lawmakers congratulate PM
Coalition partners of the PTI-led federal government extended their felicitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan over securing the vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
On the floor, Amir Liaquat recited poetry as an ode to Imran Khan. After him, MQM’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui took the floor and congratulated the premier on his success.
“We reposed our confidence in you on time now you should give confidence to the nation,” Siddiqui said, asking the premier to fulfill his promises to his party and the country.
Following Siddiqui, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leader Fehmida Mirza extended her felicitation to PM for securing more votes. “The government’s allies would always stand with the premier whenever there was a threat to the continuity of democracy despite any grievances they might have,” she added.
The GDA leader also criticise the way in which the recently concluded Senate elections were held, questioning whether the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was able to guard the process against “corrupt practice”.
Scuffle outside NA
A scuffle broke out outside National Assembly during which former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi slapped a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist.
PML-N leaders Abbasi and Musaddiq Malik were addressing a press conference outside Parliament House when activists of the PTI and PML-N clashed leading to a heated argument.
During the altercation, the former premier was also embroiled in a clash with the PTI workers who had gathered to express solidarity with Prime Minister Imran Khan as he seeks a vote of confidence.
Vote of Confidence
According to the Constitution of Pakistan, if the president feels that the prime minister has lost the confidence of the majority of the parliament’s members, then he will direct him to seek a vote of confidence and this vote is taken through an open ballot.
PM Khan, under all circumstances, must have the support of a simple majority of 172 lawmakers in the National Assembly, according to Article 91(7) of the Constitution. However, since the NA-75 seat lies vacant after its by-election results were nullified by the Election Commission of Pakistan, he will need the support of 171. The government currently has 180 members.
