New Delhi: A no-confidence motion was tabled Monday against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly.
Leader of the Opposition and President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Shahbaz Sharif, introduced the motion in the lower house.
Deputy NA Speaker Qasim Suri said a discussion on the no-trust motion would take place on 31 March at 4 pm.
The Pakistani National Assembly has a total strength of 342 members, with the majority mark being 172. Imran Khan’s PTI-led coalition has 179 members. The Opposition has 162 members.
Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party has a strength of 155, while four major allies Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) have another 20 among them.
Khan, however, is in a spot as three allies — MQM-P, PML-Q and BAP – are keeping cards close to their chest on the confidence motion. Some of his own men may vote in favour of the no-trust motion.
The move to oust Khan is led by the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party.
There are several reasons behind the dissatisfaction with Khan’s government. Prominent among those are economic mismanagement, rising prices, alleged corruption and inefficient legislators.
If Khan does not survive, he will join the long list of Pakistan premiers since 1947 – none of whom have completed a full term in office.
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