New Delhi: This Sunday is going to be a tumultuous day in the political history of Pakistan. The opposition parties will seek a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, Pakistan’s lower house to oust the incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan. While Imran still believes that he can sail through this turbulence and will complete his full term.
Though this is like hoping against hope since the cricketer-turned-politician is on a spinning track as he has to face a no-confidence vote in the Parliament. Imran was once regarded as the master strategist during his cricket captaincy in his peak years. But does he have one last strategy left to his sleeve to save his office is a big question? Since anything is possible in politics, but right now the situation is bleak for PM.
Read also: My life is in danger, says Imran Khan
What do the numbers look like?
Pak National Assembly has 342 members. Imran Khan needs at least 172 members support to save the coalition government formed under the aegis of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. However, it was not the opposition but the incumbent govt has got the biggest blow from its alliance partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P) which recently declared that it would vote against the government.
This has lowered the support base to 164 lawmakers with Imran. But with many dissenting voices from inside Imran Khan’s position looks shaky.
Will Sunday (April 3) decides the future of Imran Khan?
As per Pakistan’s constitution, a vote on a no-confidence motion must take place within 7 days after tabling it in the National Assembly. So it can’t be extended after 4th April.
Read also: Pak Opposition claims Imran Khan seeking safe exit in early elections
What’s Imran’s game plan?
Imran’s strategy is to avoid voting that’s why he has given strict instructions to his party members to not attend the session in the National Assembly. Even if they do, then they have to abstain.This will make it tough for the opposition to gain support of 172 members.
As the last resort, Imran Khan has leveled many allegations, like a ‘foreign conspiracy’ is going on to oust him along with the opposition. Earlier he blamed the US for interfering in Pakistan’s internal matters with documentary evidence.
