The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been facing various political crises since the 2018 general elections due to the statements of the coalition government and federal ministers and advisers rocking on the crutches of the allies.
After a no-confidence motion was filed against the Prime Minister earlier this month, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, was under pressure to convene a meeting of the National Assembly as soon as possible to remove the Prime Minister from power.
When will the National Assembly meet?
The 41st session of the National Assembly chaired by Asad Qaiser has been convened on March 25 at 11 am. The meeting was convened on the relocation of the opposition using its powers under Articles 54 (3) and 254 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Opposition leaders say Imran Khan has lost the confidence of the majority of members, while the PTI government has been morally dissolved. We are moving towards the restoration of democracy.
Number game and simple majority
According to the constitution, the opposition needs a simple majority of members of the National Assembly to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office, where the term number game is used. Both the opposition and the government claim to have the required number.
The total number of members of all political parties including PTI, PPP and PML-N in the National Assembly is 342 with a simple majority of 172 members while a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan will be taken under the constitution.
What does the constitution say?
Law expert Qazi Mubeen says the no-confidence motion is prosecuted under Article 95 of the Constitution and Rule 37 of the Rules of Business 2007 of the National Assembly. Voting on the motion cannot take place before 3 days and after 7 days.
That is, voting can take place within 3 to 7 days after the no-confidence motion is tabled. A long constitutional process is adopted before and after voting.
Ahmed Bilal, head of the election and parliamentary watchdog PILDAT, says that whenever a meeting is convened within 14 days of a no-confidence motion, the first day’s agenda includes a no-confidence motion.
According to Ahmed Bilal, if the opposition introduces a resolution in the House, the Speaker must ensure that action is taken under the rules and voting is held. If more votes are cast in favor of the resolution then 3 to 4 days are fixed for discussion on the resolution.
Statement of the Minister of Information
Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry has said that the National Assembly session on March 25 will not last long as Fateha is offered on the death of the National Assembly member and then the National Assembly session is adjourned. However, Ahmed Bilal does not agree with this.
The PILDAT chief said that of course, on the death of a member of the National Assembly, the session is adjourned after Fateha Khawani, but it is not mentioned in the Assembly rules. The Speaker may, if he wishes, continue the sitting after the Fatiha. The constitution obliges him to hold a referendum within seven days.
When will the no-confidence motion be presented?
The government has filed a reference in the Supreme Court seeking an explanation from the SC on what Article 63A of the Constitution says to prevent horse-trading of deviant members. Ahmed Bilal says the Supreme Court can interpret, not amend.
In that sense, the no-confidence motion is likely to be tabled on March 25. Even if the meeting is adjourned, the government cannot prolong the issue and a no-confidence vote is expected in the next seven days, beginning in April.
