Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Saturday agreed to use all legal, constitutional and parliamentary options to oust the incumbent PTI-led federal government.
The understanding was announced by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, who was addressing a press conference outside his Model Town residence where he had invited PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to a luncheon meeting.
Rumours are circulating that the PPP and the PML-N will oust Prime Minister Imra Khan through a no-confidence move, provided there is agreement on when the elections are to be called. Now the question is can the “reunited” opposition oust PTI-led government?
PPP-PML-N meeting
Bilawal and Zardari arrived on Saturday at Shehbaz’s residence for the luncheon meeting. The two expressed well wishes for Nawaz’s health and also inquired about Shehbaz, who had recently tested positive for the coronavirus.
Both sides discussed the political situation in the country in a meeting which was also attended by Maryam, Hamza Shehbaz, PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb, PML-N leader Saad Rafique, PPP Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza and the PPP’s Rukhsana Bangash.
According to reports, Shehbaz had contacted Bilawal on Friday and invited him for today’s luncheon meeting. PML-N officials had said that the meeting was being arranged on Nawaz’s directive who, they claim, had been contacted multiple times by the PPP.
They had claimed that in-house change, both in the National and in Punjab Assembly, would be on top of the meeting’s agenda. PML-N leaders said the PPP wished to start the no-confidence or in-house change process from Punjab while they were desirous of seeing change in the federal setup as well.
No-confidence motion
Last month, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) dropped the idea of moving a no-trust motion against the government in the parliament, considering the time inappropriate for such a move.
Former premier Shahid Khaqa Abbasi said such moves were always kept secret. To make the no-confidence successful, he said, they would be requiring the support of at least 172 members in the 342-member National Assembly, which they presently did not have.
Mr Abbasi said they would move the motion when they would be sure to have the support of 172 members in the assembly and that the “establishment” was not behind the ruling coalition.
However today, Shehbaz Sharif said PPP was always clear about the no-confidence motion but the PML-N had a difference of opinion about it.
He said that now there was consensus “to a large extent” in the PML-N and the party’s central executive committee would decide it in a meeting in a few days after which the matter would be taken to the PDM’s platform. “We will make an announcement in a few days after consultation with all PDM parties,” he said.
PTI-establishment relations
Talk about deals has picked up momentum in recent months ever since reports started circulating that relations had become strained between the PTI government and the establishment as a result of the controversy over the appointment of the DG ISI.
No responsible stakeholder has said anything on the record but all have been dropping broad hints that the power matrix may be undergoing a subtle shift.
The government ministers continue to claim unabashedly that they are on the same page with the establishment while the opposition leaders are also saying in no uncertain terms that they will only bring about a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan when they are sure the establishment will not bail him out.
Will no-confidence work?
After getting the mini budget passed, the government had also succeeded in getting the crucial State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill through the Senate. The way the government managed to get the State Bank Bill passed underlines the sad state of the Opposition which failed to block it despite its numerical edge in Senate.
At least eight opposition members including the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House, Yousuf Raza Gilani, were absent when the crucial bill was passed resulting to both sides getting locked in a tie at 43-43,and the bill getting through by the Senate Chairman’s casting vote.
This raises the question if the Opposition would be able to get a no-confidence vote passed against the PM in present circumstances.
