LAHORE: Imran Khan, who is plotting to retain power in Pakistan in whichever way possible, has been handed a slight relief. The no-confidence motion, which was supposed to take place today, was not debated by the National Assembly. The National Assembly, which was adjourned until April 3, will reconvene on Sunday at 11.30 am. As soon as the assembly convened today, the opposition demanded a vote. Following this, the deputy speaker announced that the House has been adjourned due to commotion. Imran Khan's representative informed the House that the assembly has to be adjourned as the meeting of the National Security Council is scheduled to be held at the same venue.

At the time, there were more than 173 opposition members in the House. The no-confidence motion will be passed with the support of 172 members in the 342-member assembly. It is noteworthy that the House split when there were enough members in the Opposition to pass the no-confidence motion. The Deputy Speaker today adjourned the House on the grounds that members of the Opposition were behaving erratically.

Meanwhile, in the run-up to the no-confidence vote, the Tahida Quami Movement, which was the main constituent party of the Imran Khan alliance, left the Pakistan government. With this, Imran lost the absolute majority. Another faction, the Balochistan Awami Party, has said it will join the opposition alliance.

This brings the total to 176 members in the opposition coalition. Imran Khan is trying to retain the majority by bringing back the factions that are at loggerheads. Imran Khan directed all PTI members to abstain from the assembly on polling day as all 24 rebels in Imran's party had joined the opposition. The move is aimed at preventing members from voting in secret.

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Meanwhile, Imran Khan has filed a petition in the Pakistan Supreme Court seeking a lifetime ban on defectors. Today, the Prime Minister is addressing the nation as a last resort to stay in power. The announcement was made by Information and Broadcasting Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain.

Shahbaz Gill, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has announced that Imran Khan will not be stepping down as Prime Minister. Gill said he would stand firm and fight to recover from the crisis.