Despite the PTI government’s frantic efforts to delay voting on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s no-confidence motion, the historic session of the National Assembly to decide his fate began on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., with voting beginning 10 minutes before the clock struck 12 amid much drama.
Imran Khan loses no-trust motion
Imran Khan loses no-trust motion with 174 members voting against him in Pakistan’s National Assembly. In a historic first for Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed from office via a no-confidence resolution. The session was chaired by PMN’s Ayaz Sadiq a member of the panel of chairs after speaker Asad Qasier resigned.
“174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution, consequently the resolution for the vote on no-confidence against Mr Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been passed by a majority,” Ayaz Sadiq announced after the process of voting was completed.
Following the announcement of the result, the speaker called Shahbaz Sharif to deliver a speech.
“We cannot thank Allah enough for allowing us to see this new day,” said Shahbaz.
‘Imran Khan lost all his powers’
Following a delay in voting on the no-confidence motion, the combined Opposition declared that Imran Khan is no longer Prime Minister of Pakistan in a statement.
The leaders also stated that neither the Opposition, the courts, nor the people will allow any “unconstitutional move” by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“None of his decisions, action or order will hold nay constitutional or legal status,” they said, adding that he [Imran Khan] would have to face consequences for every unconstitutional step and the nation will condemn all his actions.
PTI seeks action against 20 dissidents from ECP, NA speaker
Seeking action against 20 dissidents before voting on no-confidence motion, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has approached the election commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the national assembly (NA) speaker.
PTI leader Amir Dogar submitted the reference against the dissident members of the party on behalf of the chairman Imran Khan.
In the reference, an action has been sought against 20 members in light of Article 63.
It stated that the MNAs were elected on PTI’s ticket but they joined the joint opposition. It added that show-cause notices were also issued to them, but no satisfactory answer was tendered.
The reference has sought the speaker to initiate action for de-seating PTI dissidents.
Amid debate on no-trust motion, PM Imran Khan summons cabinet meeting
Amidst the debate in the national assembly (NA) on the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, the meeting of the federal cabinet has been summoned tonight.
The cabinet meeting will be held at 9pm at PM House with Imran Khan in the chair.
According to the reports, the premier will take important decisions in light of the prevailing political situation in the country.
Meanwhile, the voting on the no-confidence motion in the NA has not been carried out till the filing of this report. The no-trust motion is on the agenda of the lower house that has been restored by the Supreme Court after it was dissolved on Sunday by Presient Arif Alvi on the advice of PM Imran Khan.
The opposition members have termed the government’s move as a violation of the constitution and swaying from the instructions of the top court.
During his speech in the NA session, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the opposition would snatch its constitutional right from the government.
“If you want to hold debate on conspiracy then we can do this for 100 days, nevertheless we will snatch our constitutional right,” he said.
Maryam demands action against Imran Khan, speaker, deputy speaker
Maryam Nawaz, vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), asked on Saturday that the Supreme Court take quick notice of the flagrant breach of its judgement on the deputy speaker ruling.
“Supreme Court of Pakistan must take quick suo motto notice of blatant breach of its ruling & order arrests of Imran Khan, Speaker & Deputy Speaker before he blows everything up,” Maryam Nawaz tweeted. Bureaucracy/administrations should refuse to comply with any orders coming from the government.”
Supreme Court of Pakistan must take immediate suo motto notice of brazen violation of its decision & order arrests of Imran Khan, Speaker & Deputy Speaker before he blows everything up. Bureaucracy/administrations should refuse to comply with any orders coming from the government
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 9, 2022
We will snatch our constitutional right, says Bilawal
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said the opposition would snatch its constitutional right from the government.
“If you want to hold debate on conspiracy then we can do this for 100 days, nevertheless we will snatch our constitutional right,” Bilawal Zardari said addressing the session of the National Assembly which has no-confidence motion among other points as well on its agenda.
He said the NA speaker and treasury bench was violating the Supreme Court order regarding voting on the motion. If they wanted themselves embroiled in the crime then it was their will, he said. The ones giving Khan Saab advice were thinking about themselves, he said asking the speaker to obey the court and hold voting on the no-confidence motion.
The PPP chairman said the PM was using fake cable to force him for violation of the SC rule. “Today is assembly session’s seventh day and voting’s last day,” he said.
He blamed that Imran Khan was trying to derail democracy by creating constitutional crisis. He said Imran was selected earlier and he became Faizyab, now again he wanted to become Faizyab.
“It is a fight between those who want to stay neutral and bias. They divided our the judiciary, establishment, and parliament,” he said.
“Imran Khan feared free and fair elections. He thought of conspiracy after losing the majority. Majority is with the opposition now,” he said.
Bilawal also asked why the foreign minister was not present in the meeting of the NSC. He pointed out Imran’s absence in the House, saying that he could not present his stance in absence from the assembly.
Shah Mehmood offers opposition in-camera briefing by Pak envoy in US on threat letter
The National Assembly session reconvened after the delay of nearly three hours under the chair of Amjad Ali Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi once again took the floor.
He continued the speech and suggested the House in-camera briefing by Pakistan envoy to the United States (US) on the matter of international conspiracy to topple the government of Imran Khan.
The minister maintained that the visit to Moscow was on the agenda prior to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“PM Imran Khan’s visit was at the invitation of the President of Russia,” he said. “The US National Security Advisor warned Pakistan about the visit and categorically ordered not to visit.”
Shah Mahmood underscored that Pakistan was never in favour of the war in Ukraine and the PM many times highlighted the importance of bilateral talks.
The minister said that Pakistan is a sovereign state and the opposition wants slavery for the country.
While addressing the issue of the threat letter, he highlighted that PTI government was not faking the document- proposed the House let the envoy in Washington brief the members of the House about the matter.
Earlier, the session began with a speech by the Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif who commenced the session by expressing gratitude over the Supreme Court’s ruling over the dissolution of the Assembly and the ruling of the deputy speaker.
PTI decides to file review petition in Supreme Court to uphold NA ruling
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to file a review petition against the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the restoration of the national assembly (NA).
Sources said that PTI Chairman and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has completed consultation with the lawyers in this regard.
Sources added that in the petition, PTI will plead with the Supreme Court to uphold the ruling of the NA deputy speaker of April 3, which ensued the dissolution of the lower house.
It said that the ruling party will also give reference to Article 69 of the constitution in the petition.
The apex court on Thursday crushed the deputy speaker’s ruling to dismiss the no-trust resolution against PM Imran Khan and the subsequent dissolution of the NA by the president on the premier’s advice.
In his address to the nation on Friday, PM Imran Khan said that he had started his party 26 years ago to restore justice in Pakistan, but he was saddened that the Supreme Court did not bother to see the allegations of foreign conspiracy and gave verdict against the ruling of the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.
He said that he was disappointed with the SC verdict, adding that he would not accept an “imported government” and would launch a protest campaign against the upcoming government.
US once again rejects PM Imran Khan’s allegations
The United States (US) has once again rejected allegations made by Prime Minister Imran Khan in regards to the international conspiracy to topple his government in Pakistan.
The US state department has denied the charges and said that there is no truth in it.
During the State Department’s daily press briefing, State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter responded to a reporter, “Let me just say very bluntly there is absolutely no truth to these allegations. Of course, we continue to follow these developments, and we respect and support Pakistan’s constitutional process and rule of law. But again, these allegations are absolutely not true.”
She maintained that the US was watching the political situation in Pakistan and respects Pakistan’s constitutional procedures and the rule of law.
Notably, PM Imran Khan waved a letter during a public meeting in Islamabad on March 27 claiming it as an foreign attempt made to topple his government.
He said that the letter was a threat from the US saying if Imran Khan escape distrust move than it would be harmful for the country.
