K-P Assembly reposes trust in CM Mahmood

Even as the joint opposition in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly withdrew its no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday, the latter secured a vote of confidence by the house as it began its session.

According to PTI leader Taimur Jhagra’s tweet, the chief minister received 88 votes as against opposition’s two.

After winning the vote, Khan said the “Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will always stand by the captain.” He added that the PTI MPAs had received “many offers” from the opposition ahead of the no-confidence vote, but they turned them down.

CM Mahmood claimed that his MPAs left the opposition “disappointed", adding that he was proud of them as they were not sellouts.

Expressing gratitude on Twitter, the chief minister stated that a vote in his favour was a vote of confidence for Imran Khan.

The session presided over by Mushtaq Ghani witnessed government members in the K-P Assembly chanting slogans against the United States and “imported government”.

During the heated session, Nighat Orakzai of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Anwar Zeb of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) exchanged bitter words.

As tensions soared, CM Mahmood tried to intervene as the PPP lawmaker attempted to reach Anwar Zeb's seat.

The session was later adjourned until May 10.

Read No-trust motion submitted against K-P CM

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf is the single largest party in the 145-member house with 94 members, while 51 legislators sit on the opposition benches.

The opposition parties in the K-P Assembly had earlier this month submitted a notice for a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, apparently in an attempt to preempt the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

Meanwhile, the joint opposition withdrew its no-confidence motion against the chief minister.

A letter signed by the opposition leaders, including Sardar Hussain Babak, Khushdil Khan and Sobia Shahid, addressed to the provincial assembly secretary, said they have decided to withdraw the no-confidence motion against the chief minister.

Awami National Party leader Sardar Hussain Babak told the media that the aim of submission of the motion was to save the K-P Assembly from a possible dissolution in the wake of political and constitutional crisis that engulfed Islamabad last week.

He said the opposition in K-P would continue efforts to strengthen democracy and constitutional rule in the province.