KARACHI: While Governor Imran Ismail on Wednesday ruled out for the time being the possibility of imposing governor’s rule in Sindh, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah warned that any attempt to delay or bulldoze the process of no-confidence move against Prime Minister Imran Khan would have its consequences.

The governor was welcomed by the chief minister at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on Pakistan Day. They laid a floral wreath on the mazar and offered fateha together.

However, they spoke to the media separately.

“The governor’s rule is imposed on the order of the president of the country. I will impose it if and whenever I am asked to do it by the president,” the governor said, adding that nothing like that was happening at the moment.

Murad warns of consequences if no-trust move delayed, bulldozed

Terming the dissident MNAs of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf “traitor”, the governor called for such legislation that prevented the members from switching their ‘loyalties’.

About PTI’s coalition partners at the centre, he said that both the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League-Q were free to take their own decisions.

No-trust move opposition’s constitutional right: Murad

Speaking to reporters, CM Shah said that moving a no-confidence motion against the prime minister was the constitutional right of the opposition, warning that any attempt to delay or bulldoze the process would have its consequences.

Recalling the no-confidence move against then prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Mr Shah said that the resolution was tabled on Oct 23, 1989, and within eight days i.e. on Nov 1, 1989 voting was conducted, but the PTI government was running away to face the resolution tabled by the joint opposition.

“Let the house freely vote on the resolution,” he advised the National Assembly speaker. He, however, disagreed with a reporter that the no-confidence move would derail the democratic system.

Mr Shah said that he was sure that the no-confidence motion would be successful.

Replying to another question, he said that the MQM-P leadership had held a meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and discussed strengthening of the local governments.

Mr Shah paid rich tribute to the founding fathers of the country and said 82 years ago they had passed a resolution in 1940 and demanded a separate homeland. “The resolution set the direction for the struggle of Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2022