Govt declares nearly a whole week of holidays in ICT

Notification declares March 21 to 24 as local holidays on account of 48th Session of OIC CFM

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government on Friday announced local holidays for four days – March 21 (Monday) to 24 (Thursday) – within the revenue limits of Islamabad Capital Territory on account of the 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), which means nearly the whole week.

According to a notification issued by the Office of the District Magistrate ICT, “All federal ministries/divisions along with their attached departments and other organisations/offices including banks, schools and private offices located in ICT shall also remain closed.”

The announcement comes days after the anti-government alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman postponed the opposition parties’ power show to March 25 (Friday) which was earlier scheduled for March 23 on account of Pakistan Day.

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The opposition parties have filed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly. Speaker Asad Qaiser has not yet announced the date for voting on the no-trust motion.

However, PM Imran on Thursday directed the speaker to summon the NA session on March 21 during a meeting held in Islamabad. On March 8, the opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion against Premier Imran in the National Assembly Secretariat.

A total of 86 lawmakers from the opposition parties had signed the no-confidence motion, seeking the removal of PM Imran. On the same day, the opposition had also submitted a request for requisition of an NA session under Article 54 (3) of the Constitution.

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Under the Constitution, the speaker had to summon a session within 14 days of the requisition. If the speaker allows the motion to be tabled on March 21, then the debate needs to take place after three days and before seven days. This would mean that the debate will have to take place by March 25. After three days of debate, the MPs would be allowed to vote on the motion which would mean the voting would take place on March 28.