No-trust motion likely in March

Opposition parties discuss names for key slots in case of move’s success

ISLAMABAD:

Key opposition leaders have revealed that the flurry of activity in their camp was taking a final shape and it was expected that a no-confidence motion against the government would be presented within the first half of March.

Earlier this month, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an anti-government opposition alliance, had announced bringing a no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, it had not announced as to when it would proceed with the move.

Opposition parties have recently geared up their efforts for the no-trust motion. A senior PPP leader, while refraining to give the exact date, said there would not be much delay in bringing the no-confidence motion as the required numbers were complete and issue was being given its final touches.

The PPP stalwart disclosed that the motion was a matter of weeks now, adding that the first or second week of March would be crucial in this connection. Referring to back-to-back meetings of the opposition parties, the PPP leader said they had discussed fresh elections and an interim government as well as the names of the people for key slots provided that the no-confidence move went as per plan.
He chuckled when asked to confirm if his name was also being considered for the premiership along with PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif.

The PPP leader said matters were carefully being finalised as bringing a no-confidence motion was not only a legal, but a complicated issue. He, however, assured that the move would not take long now.
Another PPP leader, requesting anonymity, seconded the notion by saying that the first and second week of March would be important in terms of the no-trust move.

They both confirmed that the PPP would proceed with its planned long march against inflation, unemployment and poor governance from February 27. A senior PML-N leader quipped that the no-confidence move would take place before August 16, 2023. “That’s all I can say,” he added. “Leave the timing to us. No-confidence motions are much more complex than they appear.”

The opposition parties have also been trying to woo the government’s allies – the PML-Q and MQM-P.
The PML-N, PPP and JUI-F have been holding discussions among themselves as well as reaching out to the coalition partners of the ruling party, hoping that they would support the opposition when needed.
They have not only been pinning hopes on the allies but also claiming that PTI lawmakers were in touch with them, saying the ruling party’s parliamentarians were only waiting for a signal from the “powerful circles” before jumping ship.

Despite the opposition’s frequent meetings in the recent weeks to seek the allies’ support, the coalition partners have only preferred to carefully raise their reservations over the policies but have not yet distanced themselves from the government.

On Wednesday, a government’s spokesperson had claimed that three PTI lawmakers were offered money to gain their support for the opposition’s planned no-confidence motion in parliament against the government.
Commenting on the opposition forming a committee for finalising the date for the no-confidence motion, the spokesperson said the move was as an attempt to cover up the “failure” of its fresh attempt to oust a democratically-elected government.