The Pakistan Democratic Movement has finally decided to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, a PPP proposal that was previously rejected by the PML-N and other PDM parties in favour of en masse resignations and a ‘long march’ to Islamabad.
Any member of the national assembly can decide whether he/she wants the government to continue. After which he/she can table a no-confidence motion with the help of 20 per cent of the MNAs in the house. The motion has the power to trigger a general election and could see a new prime minister appointed.
Once tabled, the bill has to be debated within seven days. If the motion is to succeed then it must secure a simple majority to pass. The opposition parties will need a total of 172 votes to get the motion approved. It currently has 156 seats. Opposition parties have to seek the support of political parties in alliance with the ruling PTI, which have a total representation of 20.
Admittedly, the opposition alliance was deeply divided on the issue of bringing a no-confidence motion either in Punjab or the centre at the time. Now, Maulana Fazlur Rehamn said all parties in the PDM have agreed on bringing a no-confidence motion against illegitimate rulers and contacting the government’s allies in this regard.
Whether or not the opposition’s attempt to oust the government bears fruit, the PML-N’s change of heart regarding the use of the constitutional option for an in-house move shows that it is seeing chinks in the government’s defences. It is likely that some national and provincial PTI legislators from Punjab who are not happy with the prime minister, have contacted the PML-N for securing its support in the next elections.
The government’s relations with the establishment have been strained over the past few months, giving the opposition hope of winning their support. Additionally, the opposition feels that popular support for the PTI has been drastically eroded over the past year because of rising inflation.
The government seems unconcerned over the decision. The opposition has failed in providing a concrete course of action. It has faced an embarrassment in parliament as bills were passed despite having a majority. The failure to oust the prime minister last year and resign from assemblies last year dealt a blow.
It is perhaps the timing that has grouped the opposition together. While so far previous attempts to undermine the government have failed, the opposition parties are once again closer to giving the PTI sleepless nights.
