The opposition members have submitted two sets of documents, one under Article 54 of the Constitution to requisition the National Assembly because it is not in session now, and the other a resolution calling for a no-confidence vote against the prime minister.
New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's lackadaisical performance got yet another major challenge as the opposition parties have moved a no-confidence motion against him.
Media reports say Pakistan's lower house of Parliament is expected to be called for a session on March 22, while voting on the no-confidence motion is likely to take place between March 26 and March 30.
The opposition members have submitted two sets of documents, one under Article 54 of the Constitution to requisition the National Assembly because it is not in session now, and the other a resolution calling for a no-confidence vote against the prime minister.
According to Pakistan's constitution, a session of the National Assembly can be requisitioned if at least 25 per cent of the members
sign it, following which the speaker has a maximum of 14 days to summon a session.
PPP lawmaker Naveed Qamar said the requisition had the signatures of 140 members.
Meanwhile, the Constitution and rules of procedure of the house mandate that a no-confidence resolution against the premier in
Pakistan must have signatures of at least 20 per cent of the members of the National Assembly, which means at least 68 members, for it to be voted on.
After the National Assembly is in session, the rules of procedure dictate that the secretary will circulate a notice for a no-confidence
the resolution, which will be moved on the next working day.
From the day the resolution is moved, it "shall not be voted upon before the expiry of three days, or later than seven days," according
to the rules.
In order to carry through the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, the joint opposition would require a simple majority, which means it needs the support of 172 members of the national assembly from a total of 342.
Last year in March, the premier had voluntarily sought a trust vote following an upset in Senate elections. In a show of strength, he had
secured 178 votes–six more than required–to win the vote of confidence from the National Assembly.
