Politics

What will happen if no-confidence motion succeeds against PM Imran Khan?

Published

3 years ago

Farwa

The National Assembly is all set to vote on the no-confidence motion this Sunday after the Opposition decided to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan, accusing him of pushing the country into economic and political turmoil.

The PTI effectively lost its majority in the 342-member National Assembly Wednesday when a coalition partner — MQM-P — said its seven lawmakers would for the Opposition alliance. Before them, several other allies and PTI MNAs announced they will cross benches.

As a result, the PTI has the support of 142 MNAs while the Opposition has 199 — more than the required numbers of a simple majority, 172.

But if the prime minister is ousted, how will the next premier’s election take place?

Proposals

The NA rules and procedures mention that if the prime minister’s seat falls vacant, the house will proceed to elect a new Muslim premier without debate or any other business.

Any member may propose or second the name of any Muslim candidate for the top office, but no lawmaker’s name can be submitted twice — they can be named only on a single nomination paper.

Once the names have been decided, the names of the candidate should be sent to the Secretary by 2pm on the day preceding the day on which the election of prime minister is scheduled to take place.

Scrutiny

The speaker shall, in the presence of the candidates or their proposers or seconders who may wish to be present, scrutinise the nomination paper and may reject a nomination paper if he is satisfied that:

the candidate is not a member of the Assembly;
any provision of rule 32 has not been complied with; or
the signature of the proposer, the seconder or the candidate is not “genuine”

Following the scrutiny, the speaker has the power to either accept or reject the nomination papers. In case the papers are rejected, the speaker will have to briefly record the reasons.

“The decision of the speaker — accepting or rejecting a nomination paper — shall be final,” the NA rules read.

Withdrawal of nomination papers

A candidate can withdraw their candidature at any time before the election takes place.

Polling

On the day of the election, the speaker will read out the names of the candidates.

In case there is only one contesting candidate and they secure the votes of the majority of the total membership of the assembly, the speaker shall declare them to have been elected.

And if the contesting candidate fails to secure the votes of the majority of the total membership of the assembly, all proceedings will commence afresh.

Meanwhile, if there are two or more contesting candidates and if no contesting candidate secures such a majority in the first poll, a second poll will be held between the candidates who secured the two highest numbers of votes.

If the number of votes secured by two or more candidates securing the highest number of votes is equal, further polling will be held between them until one of them secures a majority of the votes of the members present.

When the prime minister is elected

After the prime minister has been elected, the speaker shall send the result in writing to the president and the secretary will issue a notification to be published in the gazette.

Will the PM be immediately sent packing?

Yes and no. According to Article 94 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the president may ask the prime minister to continue to hold office until his successor assumes the position.

Latest News

Response from PTI to PM Shehbaz regarding party protests

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

PTI spokesperson: The government is attempting to deflect criticism away from its “failures,” the spokesperson stated in a statement.

The PTI spokesperson said, “The mandate thieves are just skilled at making pronouncements; in reality, they are obsessed with inflaming tensions between provinces and persecuting people.

All Pakistanis are aware, he continued, that “vote manipulation” was the means by which this regime was elected. “To defend their rights, democracy, and an independent judiciary, the people are now taking to the streets.”

In addition to pledging to resist what the party referred to as “injustices,” the PTI spokesperson stated that the country is committed to preserving Pakistan’s future.

PM Shehbaz claimed earlier in his speech to the federal cabinet that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is “leading” the group of sabotage agents, which is made up of Afghan citizens, and it is utilizing government employees.

Ali Amin Gandapur is ‘guiding’ the protests, the prime minister stated, while the government is working to stabilize the economy and launch its own economic initiative.

One Islamabad Police official was martyred during the rally, and protesters allegedly fired from the air, according to PM Shehbaz. It is natural that investment will draw in a calm and safe environment, he said.

Regarding the PTI demonstration, the prime minister stated that attempts were made to incite unrest at a time when the Chinese Premier was scheduled to undertake a bilateral visit along with a Saudi team, and accusations were made against the government.

While comparing the PTI’s recent protest to the party’s 2014 sit-in, Prime Minister Shehbaz declared that a “gory tale” recurrence would not be permitted at all.

“Such situations are a recurrence of the events that occurred in 2014–2015, when a sit-in was organized for months and was not called off despite the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan being announced without consideration for the consequences for the people and economy of the country. That won’t be permitted to happen again. Under any circumstances, we will not put up with it. I guarantee you of this. The prime minister pledged, “I will not allow it to happen.”

Latest News

APC Regarding Palestine: Deputy Prime Minister Invites JUI-F Leader to Join APC on Palestine

Published

5 days ago

Farwa

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has been asked by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to attend the All Parties Conference, which is being held today to discuss the Palestine problem and is being hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The leader of JUI-F and a high-ranking delegation from coalition partners met with the deputy prime minister at his home.

Khawaja Saad Rafique, Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman, and Nayyer Hussain Bukhari were among the delegation members.

Muhammad Aslam Ghori, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, and Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi took part in the meeting as well.

The discussion at the conference also covered the nation’s overall political predicament.

Latest News

PTI founder prohibited from meeting family and lawyers

Published

5 days ago

Farwa

The jail authorities have cited security concerns as the rationale for this prohibition.

Sources indicated that the Punjab government’s prohibition on meetings will be effective till October 18 and will extend to additional inmates at Adiala Jail.

Security agents have intensified investigations and apprehended six additional members of the jail staff for facilitating the PTI founder.

Sources indicated that the incarcerated personnel of the prison also comprised three women. “The apprehended prison staff comprises a janitor, two female wardens, and three CCTV surveillance operators,” sources reported.

Security agents have confiscated the employees’ cell phones. “Female employees were communicating messages between Bushra Bibi and the founder of PTI,” sources reported.

Former Adiala Jail Deputy Superintendent Zafar Iqbal has recently returned home following his detention on allegations of assisting former Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to sources.

Sources indicate that Zafar Iqbal was apprehended on August 13 for interrogation over his assistance to Imran Khan while incarcerated.