ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has barred PTI lawmakers from attending the National Assembly meeting on the day of voting on no-confidence motion against him.
The no-confidence resolution against the prime minister was tabled in the National Assembly by leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif on March 28. Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri presided over the session before adjourning it till Thursday, March 31. According to rules, the voting will take place after seven days of debate on the motion.
In a letter, PTI chairman Imran Khan has conveyed directions to the party lawmakers to abstain from voting or reaching the National Assembly against the no-confidence motion.
“All the members of the Parliamentary Party of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the National Assembly of Pakistan shall abstain from voting/not attend the meeting of the National Assembly on the day the the said resolution is set out on the agenda for voting,” it said.
The letter said no PTI member shall attend of make himself/herself available at the time and day of the voting on the resolution of no-confidence. It addedthat only duly-designated parliamentary members will speak on behalf of the PTI during debate on the motion.
“It is make clear to all members that no member shall violate any instruction or extend any favour, relating to the vote of no-confidence, to any other parliamentary party,” it added.
It warned that action would be taken under Article 63-A of the Constitution against those who violate his directives. “Any violation of these directions shall be treated as express of defection in terms of Article 63-A,” it concluded.
تحریک عدم اعتماد- اس سازش سے دور رہیں – نہ صرف پی ٹی آی کے اراکین بلکہ اپوزیشن جماعتوں کے اراکین بھی انجانے میں غلطی نہ کر جائیں- اس کا حصہ نہ بنیں – یہ قوم کبھی آپکو معاف نہیں کرے گی- تمام محب وطن اس سازش کو ناکام بنائیں – اللہ تعالی ہمارے وطن کا حامی و ناصر ہو – آمین pic.twitter.com/vkzuABCtem
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) March 29, 2022