Nobody will be stopped from casting votes, says Rashid

Interior minister says PM Imran will not call off his March 27 rally

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid on Sunday said the government will not obstruct anyone from casting their vote on the no-confidence motion tabled against Prime Minister Imran Khan by the joint opposition.

During a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister stated that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not resort to extra-constitutional measures to sway the results of the motion of no-trust against PM Imran Khan.

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The minister said, “The honest will stand with Imran Khan at this time; I am confident that even the party dissenters will change their minds”, adding that the opposition was involved in "bribing" lawmakers with stolen money parked in off-shore accounts.

Amid claims by the ministers that the lawmakers will have to wade through a million-strong crowd to cast their vote, the joint opposition had decided to move the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for the holding of peaceful and uninterrupted voting on the no-trust move filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Rashid said that National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had the right to postpone the no-confidence session in case of security situations. He added that there was precedence for such a move, like the rulings by former speakers Yousaf Raza Gilani and Wasim Sajjad.

Read: Experts say delaying no-trust vote may invoke Article 6

OIC moot

The minister addressed the opposition’s threat to block the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference, scheduled to commence in Islamabad from March 22, saying that those who aim to disrupt the session were "involved with foreign agents looking to destabilise the country".

With over 600 foreign attendees from all Muslim nations, the minister stated that to threaten the conference was an "irresponsible claim by opposition leadership".

Read: Qureshi, Rashid warn against disrupting OIC moot

He added that 15,000 security personnel including police, Rangers, and Frontier Corps were tasked with ensuring law and order within the federal capital till April 2.

Imran won't call off rally

Rashid said that “ground politics” would commence from March 27. “Imran Khan is holding a rally on March 27, he is not going to call it off -- the opposition has also called for a march," the minister stated.

The minister stated that the district commissioner has been asked to take petitions from both parties and create separate routes for the marches to be held on the 27th. “The opposition should also look at the place and choose the routes, there will be no obstacles to reach the venue, but if there is a clash, the opposition will be responsible and if there is any loss of life or property, the leaders will not be spared," he added.

Responding to a question regarding the involvement of two PTI ministers in the attack on the Sindh House, Rashid stated that First Incident Reports (FIRs) have been registered against them adding, “Imran Khan has said that you may protest peacefully but we do not condone violence”.