ISLAMABAD, July 6: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) is preparing to move a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the National Assembly.

ARD’s parliamentary secretary Izhar Amrohvi said that the move was in line with the decision of the London grand alliance and there were 74 signatories to the motion, which would be moved “as and when required”.

Mr Amrohvi said that the date for filing the motion would be finalised after the return of main ARD leaders from London, adding that the matter would also be discussed with the MMA.

Mr Amrohvi said that 55 members of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), 15 members of the Pakistan Muslim League-N and four other opposition MNAs, including chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Khan Achakzai, had signed the motion.

The PPP leader said that the ARD had the required strength in the lower house of parliament to move the motion. According to the Constitution, Mr Amrohvi said, a no-confidence motion could be moved against the prime minister by “not less than 20 per cent of the total members of the National Assembly”, which meant that the opposition required numbers of number.

He said that the ARD would seek the support of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal before moving the motion, adding that its success needed the support of 173 members.

He claimed that some of the ruling coalition legislators had assured the ARD leadership of supporting the motion.