Image source, Getty Images
Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan
The no-confidence motion brought by the opposition against the government of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is seen as an important test in his political career. A referendum on the resolution is expected to take place on Sunday with a debate.
Imran Khan, a former cricketer and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said last Friday that he was not discouraged by the declining support for the no – confidence vote against him.
In a televised address, he said that despite the decline in majority support, “I will not resign. I will play to the last ball.” He also vowed to face a no-confidence vote on Sunday.
He added that Pakistan’s powerful military had given him three options: face a no-confidence vote or hold early elections or step down as prime minister.
Well, now let’s see what challenges the Imran Khan government faces in practice.
What is the challenge for Imran?
The no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Khan was filed on March 28 by Shahbaz Sharif, the leader of the opposition and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party.
Imran Khan, 69, came to power in 2018 with the slogan of creating a new Pakistan and some promises.
But he has been criticized by the opposition for failing to address fundamental issues such as price controls.
Promising to wipe out decades of entrenched corruption, he came to power and fought to retain the support of the coalition parties to run the administration under skyrocketing inflation and frozen debt.
Some analysts say that while military strength remains the main source of political power for Pakistan, Imran Khan has also lost the support of the military.
What will the confidence vote look like?
How does the no-confidence vote in the Pakistani parliament work anymore? Let’s see.
Under the Constitution of Pakistan, the Prime Minister is elected on the basis of majority strength in the 342-member Lok Sabha. To be prime minister in that category, a candidate for that position needs the votes of 172 or more MPs.
Even if the confidence vote is to be won after the formation of the regime, the same number of strengths must remain for the Prime Minister.
To thwart the opposition’s attempt, Imran Khan needed 172 votes. But the departure of several members from his own party, the PTI, has plunged him into deep trouble.
Image source, Getty Images
What will happen after the referendum?
Even if Imran Khan loses the referendum, the current five-year term of parliament could continue until the end of August 2023. A general election must be held within 60 days thereafter.
Until then, a referendum will be held in the Lok Sabha to elect a new Prime Minister. Then any party with members in parliament can nominate their own party candidates. However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat Lukashenko’s government and called for immediate “general elections” until 2023.
Some constitutional analysts say parliament could be dissolved and a general election held if no candidate gets a majority.
What are the chances for Imran Khan?
Imran Khan has already ordered that none of his own party’s PTI MPs come to parliament on the day of the referendum, with the aim of preventing dissidents in his own party from secretly supporting the resolution against him.
Image source, Getty Images
He does not have to prove his supportive strength to win because members do not come to them. At the same time, he can use the necessary tactics to prevent the opposition from getting the required 172 votes.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan has also filed a petition in a Pakistani court. In the petition, Imran Khan has sought an order banning disgruntled MPs from contesting elections for life.
Prime Ministers who do not fully hold office
Pakistan has a history of being prime minister in politics. That means no prime minister in that country has ever fully completed a five-year term.
No Prime Minister in Pakistan has been ousted by a no-confidence motion in the last 50 years. They won when the opposition passed a no-confidence motion in 1989 against Benazir Bhutto and in 2006 against Sheikh Aziz. Imran Khan is currently the third Prime Minister in his line to face a decisive referendum challenge without the confidence of the opposition.
BBC Tamil on social media: