PTI dismisses claims of no-confidence motion against PM Shehbaz, NA speaker

• PTI held no meetings on confidence vote, says PTI chairman.
• Gohar urges peace between political parties following ceasfire.
• Qaiser hinted at no-confidence during political briefing.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday categorically denied reports suggesting that his party is planning to table a no-confidence motion.

Speaking to the media, The News reported, Gohar clarified that the notion of PTI initiating a no-trust move was baseless, stating that such a proposal is neither on "our agenda nor on the cards." He further said that PTI has not held any meetings on the subject.

Calling for calm, Gohar added that with a ceasefire now in place with India, the situation had changed significantly in the past week and urged that domestic political peace should also be prioritised.

Earlier, the media had quoted the ex-speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, as saying that a no-confidence motion would be brought against the Speaker or the prime minister. 

He maintained they were currently reviewing if the motion should be moved during the current tension with India. It was denated “if the no-confidence motion was moved during the tense situation, our patriotism would be doubted.”

When asked whether they will take any practical steps against the speaker, the former speaker said they are working on a comprehensive plan and had a thread bare discussion on the issue of no-confidence. 

“We have also planned to hold assembly session outside the assembly as well as holding the All Parties Conference,” he claimed.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday expressed confidence that many Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers would not support a proposed no-confidence motion against him.

During an informal interaction with journalists in Islamabad, the NA speaker said that those “friends” who were eager to bring the no-confidence motion against him may go ahead.

According to PTI sources, the former ruling party was considering tabling no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the NA speaker, in collaboration with opposition allies.

During a recent meeting between incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, his legal team, and his sisters, the idea of a no-confidence motion against the speaker was actively discussed, the well-placed sources added.

The PTI founder was briefed on the opposition alliance's stance, including that of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who has publicly expressed no confidence in the current speaker.

The sources further claimed that the PTI founder directed the party’s leadership and allied opposition parties to move ahead with planning the motion, giving them full authority to execute the strategy when the time was right. 

Party insiders also quoted the PTI founder as saying that the current government must be challenged, both inside and outside the parliament.