Islamabad: The voting on the no-confidence motion against Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to take place on March 28, officials said on Monday. The voting will take place a day after the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced to stage a massive rally of one million supporters in Islamabad in a show of strength against the opposition’s move.
Both the decisions were revealed following a crucial meeting of the PTI core committee chaired by PM Imran Khan on Monday. The announcement comes after the joint opposition submitted a no-trust resolution against the premier last week. PM Imran Khan believes that his government would survive the move and come out stronger.
Khan’s supporters to hold massive rally
“Over one million people from across the country will attend the power show” in Islamabad’s D-chowk gathering site on March 27, PTI leader Aamir Mehmood Kiani said. “This will be the largest rally in Pakistan’s history,” he said, asking party members and supporters to prepare for the rally. Minister Asad Umar said the massive gathering would give a message that the people of Pakistan stand with Imran Khan “to defend independence and sovereignty.”
PTI reaching out to allies
Information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that they are confident that the allied parties will stand by the government. Since the past week, the PTI leaders have been engaged in talks and meetings with the government’s allies to win back their support. The minister earlier rejected the speculations that the military was supporting the opposition, saying that the armed forces stand with the government as required under the Constitution.
Allies yet to announce their support
The government allies include Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP). As many as 17 MNAs belong to these four parties and if they decide to join the opposition, the ruling party would lose its strength in the National Assembly. The PML-Q information secretary told Gulf News that the party is yet to make a final decision after a round of consultations with allies in the ruling coalition. The opposition needs a simple majority of 172 of the total 342 members to depose Khan from office.
Opposition to discuss strategy on no-confidence vote
Pakistan’s top opposition leaders are expected to meet over dinner on Monday to discuss their no-confidence strategy. The event is scheduled to take place at the residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif. Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sardar Akhtar Mengal of Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) are expected to attend the meeting.
