Imran Khan’s plan appears to be to buy time, either in the hope of surviving a last-minute agreement with the Pakistan Army and ISI – only they can lure back the followers who have abandoned him in recent weeks — or simply to delay the inevitable.
Imran Khan‘s plan appears to be to buy time, either in the hope of surviving a last-minute agreement with the Pakistan Army and ISI – only they can lure back the followers who have abandoned him in recent weeks — or simply to delay the inevitable.
The session, which began on Friday, was adjourned for two days following an obituary notice that garnered opposition criticism of Speaker Asad Qaiser. Even if the motion is tabled in Monday’s meeting, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has stated that it may not be voted on until April 4.
The motion must be voted on within three days after being tabled, and within seven days of being tabled, according to procedure.
What exactly is the Prime Minister’s goal?
Imran Khan’s plan appears to be to buy time, either in the hope of surviving a last-minute agreement with the Pakistan Army and ISI – only they can lure back the followers who have abandoned him in recent weeks — or simply to delay the inevitable. Some members of his government are pressing him to call a quick election a year before the scheduled poll in 2024.
Many PTI dissidents hail from South Punjab, and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi hails from the same region. He has proposed a bill to create a new province of South Punjab in the hopes of luring them back to the party.
The formation of such a province, carved out of Pakistan’s Punjab province, has long been a regional desire, but the Punjabi-dominated political and security elite has never seriously considered it because it would jeopardise their own powerful and pre-eminent position. Punjabi-dominated
Is he able to get the votes in the House?
The PTI coalition is losing followers on a regular basis. The National Assembly has 342 members, with 179 belonging to Imran’s ruling alliance. The Jamhoori Watan Party resigned from the alliance on Sunday, bringing the total to 178.
Imran and PTI officials have been attempting to persuade the PML-Q, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, all of whom have 17 MNAs, to vote against the no-confidence resolution.
At least two of these parties were created by the military over time – the BAP was formed soon before the 2018 election, and Musharraf hacked the PML(N) into the PML(Q). Most of the time, the MQM has sided with the military
These parties have yet to inform Imran Khan of their choice. Even if all three remain loyal to him, he will still need to re-elect a dozen to two dozen PTI members who have rebelled against his leadership and will most likely vote against him.
Who is this “guy in London” whom Imran accuses of sabotaging Pakistan’s interests?
As a show of strength against the opposition, Pakistan’s Prime Minister organised a massive rally in Islamabad on Sunday near the National Assembly. He dubbed the gathering Amr bil Ma’ruf, after a Quranic commandment (encourage the good). The gathering drew a large crowd of supporters of Imran and his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, according to Dawn.
Imran, like many other embattled leaders in South Asia before him, lashed out at a “foreign hand,” as well as opposition PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif, stating that “a man sitting in London” was working against Pakistan’s interests. He claimed that attempts were being made to sway Pakistan’s foreign policy against the country’s interests.
“Attempts are being made to change Pakistan’s government using foreign funds. Our folks are being taken advantage of. Some people, mostly unknowingly, use money against us. We are aware of the sources of pressure being applied to us. “We’ve been threatened in writing,” he continued, “but we will not compromise on national security.”
Imran stated that he was providing “a case for Pakistan’s independence” and that he would soon inform the public about the “international conspiracy.” In the form of a letter, he claimed to have conclusive proof of the supposed scheme.
“The nation is curious as to who the man in London is meeting with and whose orders the characters in Pakistan are following. I’m going to show you the proof we have. I can’t go into further detail because I have to defend my country’s interests.
I am unable to discuss anything that would be detrimental to my country. I have the opportunity to tell you about it. He stated, “I have no fear of anyone, but I am concerned for Pakistan’s interests.”
What does the opposition do outside of the legislature?
On Monday, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) will have their own rally in Islamabad.
Published By : VATSAL KOTHA
Edted By : KRITIKA KASHYAP
