Islamabad: Pakistan’s opposition lawmakers submitted a no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan in the National Assembly, claiming they have more than the required strength of numbers to replace the leader of the House. Although the opposition hasn’t officially disclosed its next move, sources said the chiefs of the parties involved had agreed to elect PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif as the next PM. They are also understood to have arrived at a consensus to hold national polls as scheduled in 2023.
For Imran to be dethroned, the opposition parties require the support of 172 legislators in the 342-member National Assembly. Several opposition leaders claim to have the support of 202 members, including 28 disgruntled lawmakers of Imran’s PTI.
Imran described the motion against him as the opposition’s last move. “After this, nothing will happen against our government till 2028. I have completed my preparation, but a captain does not reveal his strategy all at once,” he said, vowing that his party would sweep the next polls as well.
Imran said the opposition was playing “a mind game”, not realising that “I am a master of mind games”. Imran also claimed “multiple foreign hands” behind the opposition’s move. “Those who do not want independent foreign policy support the opposition.”
Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PPP Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif explained the reasons behind tabling the motion at a press conference. The PML-N president lashed out at Imran for suggesting a “foreign” push to the no-confidence motion. “I believe no accusation can be more foolish than this one,” he said.
