New Delhi: As the Pakistan National Assembly is set to conduct a No-Confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, the cricketer-turned-politician has decided that the lawmakers of his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will also be present in the National Assembly.
Earlier, he had decided not to include PTI members in the Assembly proceedings against him.
However, the decision was reversed after consultation with Khan’s confidants and legal experts.
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Pakistan-based Dawn reported Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry as confirming that the Prime Minister withdrew the letter previously sent to party MNAs calling on them to skip Sunday’s sitting of the lower house of the parliament. He said that PM Khan would lead PTI members himself on the day.
The Information Minister claimed that nearly 140 PTI lawmakers were present at the dinner hosted by Imran Khan on Saturday night. He revealed that the government had decided to hold a fully-fledged debate in the National Assembly, and both opposition and treasury members would be provided an opportunity to speak their minds.
Imran Khan Calls For Peaceful Protests
A day ahead of the no-confidence motion against Khan, he called for peaceful protest by his supporters against what he called an “international conspiracy by the US to oust him.”
On Saturday evening, while addressing the public during a Q&A session with the ARY News, he said that he will face them till the end. He also called the people of Pakistan to come in is support.
He said, “I call on all of you to move to the streets today and tomorrow. You should do so for your conscience, in the interest of this nation. No party should force you to do that. You should be out on the streets for the future of your children. You should all go out and show that you are vigilant.”
The political turmoil in Pakistan has been going on for a while which has now resulted in a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan today at 11:30 am.
On Saturday, Khan also claimed that there is a threat to his life and the no-confidence motion is an attempt to oust him by foreign powers, especially the US.
While asserting that he would not bow down in front of the opposition, he said, “When I played cricket for 20 years, the world and those who played cricket with me saw that I play till the last ball. I've never accepted defeat in life. Nobody should think that I will sit at home. I'll come back stronger, whatever may the result be.”
He further added, “Neither I'm going to bow in front of anyone nor will I let my community do that. Why should we have to crawl like ants? Won't let our people bend before anyone.”
The joint opposition comprising PML-N and the PPP has in excess of 160 seats in the National Assembly.
Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has 155 seats in the lower house, 17 short of the 172 needed to retain power in the 342-member Pakistan National Assembly.