Pak: No-confidence motion could be put to vote on Sunday, Imran to play 'sacrifice' card; army praises US

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan military on Saturday said it looks forward to maintaining close ties with the United States and other Western powers, amid indications that the opposition's no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan will be put to a vote in the Pakistan General Assembly today.

Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa's speech at the Islamabad Security Conference yesterday is a clear indication of this. Bajwa said Imran Khan's foreign policy, which has angered the United States, Britain and the European Union, would be changed. He also condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a bid to pacify the United States. Bajwa said all disputes with India, including Kashmir, should be resolved through dialogue.

Meanwhile, the opposition, which has secured a majority in the National Assembly, is confident of ousting Imran. Imran's defeat in the no-confidence vote will mark a new beginning in Pakistan's political history.

Today, Imran has called for a demonstration of one lakh followers in front of Parliament. It is an attempt to make it appear that the opposition has sacrificed Imran for foreign powers. According to Article 94 of the Constitution, the President can ask Imran to remain in office until a new Prime Minister is elected, even if he loses the no-confidence vote. The constitution does not mention the time constraint to elect a new leader. Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has said that Imran will continue as prime minister during this period.

Foreign conspiracy to oust Imran?

On the day Russia invaded Ukraine, Imran held talks with President Putin in Moscow, provoking Western powers. Imran also publicly criticized a letter from EU ambassadors calling for an anti-Russian statement. Imran's public allegations that the US was involved in the plot to oust him also angered the United States. Imran was not among the group of national leaders that Joe Biden called after becoming US president.

Opposition has the majority

The total strength of the National Assembly is 342

172 votes are enough to pass the no-confidence motion

7 MQM-P members defect to the opposition

With this, 177 members have joined the opposition

Imran's party strength is 164

24 rebels will vote against Imran