Opposition ‘ready’ to file no-trust move

Maulana Fazl says next three days are ‘crucial’

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD:

Opposition parties have claimed that they have managed to muster the support of enough lawmakers to oust the PTI-led government and they are expected to move a requisition for the National Assembly session on Friday (tomorrow) to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sources said a nine-member opposition committee had completed its preparations to file the no-trust motion. They are considering moving a requisition for a session of the lower house of parliament for the purpose within 48 hours.

The committee includes senior PML-N leaders -- Ayaz Sadiq, Saad Rafique and Rana Sanaullah – while the PPP was represented by Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pervez Ashraf and Naveed Qamar.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a PML-N leader, requesting anonymity, maintained that the opposition had around 180 members by its side. However, the party leader refrained from giving the exact figure.

The leader further said JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who also heads the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), had been given the go-ahead by PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari as well as the PML-N leadership to proceed with the no-confidence move.

Read: PTI MPs offered money to back no-trust move: Fawad

“The PML-N will chalk out a plan to accommodate those from the treasury benches [backing the no-trust move].”

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Fazl said the next two or three days would be “crucial”. “We are in touch with its [government’s] allies,” he added.

The PML-N leader claimed that the no-trust motion would be like a “walk in the park” for the opposition parties now that they had acquired the magical figure of lawmakers to oust the government.

“The PML-N and the JUI-F won’t have to stage their long march if our no-confidence motion is successful. That’s why both the parties haven’t even prepared for it.”

The leader further maintained that contrary to the government’s claims, there was no discord among the opposition parties. “All matters relating to incoming set-up have also been almost finalised.”

Former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair, who is also spokesperson of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, when asked to comment on the matter, said it was too sensitive an issue to comment and refrained from divulging any information in that regard.

Read: No-trust move shakes the foundation of a country: Rashid

On the other hand, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spokesperson Ali Bader when asked the same question said they would not be able to comment on the no-confidence vote before March 8.

He said PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was personally looking after the issue of the no-confidence while whereas Bilawal was taking care of the long march.

On the PPP‘s long march to Islamabad, the leader said as of now the PML-N had decided not to support the move. “A common understanding within the party is that we will not extend any physical support for the march. However, given the ever-changing scenario, the decision can be reversed at any time in the coming three days.”

The leader further said the PML-N wanted early elections, so the question of the formation of a government would only be a stopgap arrangement.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had recently claimed that he would make an important announcement on reaching Islamabad from Karachi. His long march on Wednesday had already entered Punjab and was expected to reach Islamabad on March 7. The announcement is likely to be made on the next day.

Separately, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser has started reaching out to all lawmakers of the lower house of parliament, particularly the ministers belonging to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, to take them into confidence. However, PTI MNA Noor Alam Khan remained absent from the meeting.

Sources said PTI chief whip Amir Dogar has also been assigned the task to assist the NA speaker. The speaker met with federal ministers from K-P including Pervez Khattak, Noorul Haq Qadri, Ali Muhammad Khan, Murad Saeed and Shehryar Afridi. He also held meetings with PTI MNAs belonging to K-P.

Earlier, the NA speaker had held consultations with other PTI members in the Punjab Assembly, including Riaz Fatyana. He will also hold one-on-one meetings with party MNAs from Sindh and Balochistan.

Following the directives of PM Imran, the speaker has been in constant touch with the members for the last one week to thwart the no-confidence motion of the opposition.