PM Imran Khan had opted for no-trust motion after Yousuf Raza Gilani defeated his govt’s candidate Abdul Hafeez Sheikh in...
The Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan has divided Islamabad; however, this is not the first time that the premier has faced such a motion.
In the March 2021 Senate elections, Yousuf Raza Gilani defeated the government’s candidate former finance advisor Abdul Hafeez Sheikh in the National Assembly for the Islamabad general seat.
After the defeat, the premier had voluntarily decided to put himself for a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.
Read more: Prime Minister Imran Khan secures vote of confidence with Opposition absent
The premier had made the move as many lawmakers from the Treasury benches had voted for Gilani in the Senate elections.
Back then, the premier had openly invited his MNAs to vote against him if they did not have faith in his leadership.
“I will take confidence motion the day after tomorrow. I am going to the assembly. I am telling my assembly you tell openly because voting would be in open. I am telling my MNAs, this is your democratic right. You can say you are not with Imran Khan, I will respect you,” the premier had said in a televised address to the nation.
PM Imran had also said that if his party lawmakers raise their hand and say it openly that he’s “incompetent” then he would go in the Opposition.
Read more: Opposition submits no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan
Interestingly, when the PM had voluntarily decided to seek the no-confidence motion against the Opposition, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had boycotted the session.
In the last voting, PM Imran had secured 178 votes, which was six more votes than the 172 that was required.
The premier's stance on the no-confidence motion is different to what it was over a year ago.
This year on March 8, the Opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion against PM Imran in the National Assembly Secretariat.
A total of 86 lawmakers from the Opposition parties had signed the no-confidence motion, seeking the removal of PM Imran.
On the same day, the Opposition had also submitted a request for requisition of a National Assembly session under Article 54 (3).
Read more: Pakistanis prefer to go down with me than supporting 'three stooges', says PM Imran Khan
Under the Constitution, the speaker had to summon a session of the Assembly within 14 days of the requisition.
Sources, privy to the development, said that the PM had directed the speaker to summon the session on March 21 during a meeting held in Islamabad.
If the speaker allows the motion to be tabled on March 21, the same day the NA session is convened, then the debate needs to take place after three days and before seven days. This would mean that the debate will have to take place by March 25.
After three days of debate, the MPs would be allowed to vote on the motion which would mean the voting would take place on March 28.
It remains to be seen whether the premier will survive the motion or not.