ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed all 155 members of the National Assembly (MNAs) belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to abstain from attending the NA session on the day of voting on no-confidence motion against him, asking only the designated members of the party to defend him during the debate on the opposition’s move.

The motion was tabled in the assembly on March 28 and Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid believes the voting on the resolution would take place on April 3 or 4 after debate on it. In all, the PTI has 155 members in the 272-member House, whereas the opposition needs to secure at least 172 votes in order to make their no-trust move against the prime minister successful.

In an identical letter to all the 155 lawmakers of the ruling party, PM Khan warned the MNAs that they could be de-seated from the parliament under Article 63-A of the Constitution if they attended the session on the day of voting against him.

“No member of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf shall attend or make himself/herself available at the time and day of voting on the resolution of no-confidence,” the prime minister cautioned the legislators in the letter.

Mr Khan wrote to them that being head/leader of the parliamentary party of PTI in the NA, he took an opportunity to convey to the PTI MNAs the following directives which were to be followed strictly with regard to the no-confidence motion against him.

On March 28, leave was granted to move the resolution in terms of Rule 37 (4) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The resolution shall be voted upon within a period of seven days.

“All the members of the parliamentary party of the PTI in NA shall abstain from voting/ not attend the meeting of the NA on the date when the said resolution is set out on the agenda of the NA for voting,” the letter said.

In the letter, the PM stated: “Duly designated parliamentary members will speak on behalf of the PTI during the course of debate on this motion and all members are required to adhere to these directions in true letter & spirit and keep in mind the intent behind the provision of Article 63-A of Constitution of Pakistan, 1973.”

He made it clear to all PTI members “no member shall violate any instruction or extend any favour, relating to the vote of no confidence, to any other parliamentary party/group whatsoever. Every/any violation of these directions shall be treated as express defection in terms of Article 63-A”.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2022