PM Imran set new democratic tradition by deciding to get fresh trust vote: Shibli

Minister asserted that it has been decided that only democratic values will prevail in the country

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz on Friday said Prime Minister Imran Khan has set a new democratic tradition in the country by deciding to take a fresh vote of confidence from the National Assembly.

The premier would seek a confidence vote in the National Assembly on Saturday in an apparent move to counter the opposition’s ability to challenge the legitimacy of his government. The move comes after the ruling party lost the Islamabad general seat to the opposition in the recently held Senate elections.

“Imran Khan took the decision on moral grounds which has worried the opposition leaders, as they do not believe in democratic norms” the senator stated while talking to a private news channel.

Shibli asserted that it has now been decided that only democratic values will prevail in the country.

"PTI’s candidate for the women’s reserved seat got 174 votes which proved that the party still holds the majority within the National Assembly", he added.

Yousaf Raza Gilani, the joint candidate of opposition parties, was elected senator from Islamabad after narrowly defeating PTI's Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

Gillani, a former prime minister who belongs to the PPP, enjoyed the support of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance cobbled together by a dozen opposition parties against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has unanimously decided that Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a vote of confidence from the National Assembly," said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi earlier. 

Also Read: ‘Shaikh's defeat shows PM Imran doesn't command parliament's trust’

Following the PTI candidate's shocking defeat, members of the opposition also started questioning the moral justification of Prime Minister Imran Khan to stay at the helm while the incumbent government accused the opposition of indulging in corrupt practices to win the hotly-contested Senate elections.