PML-N, PPP bar their lawmakers from travelling abroad

The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Sunday barred their Members of Parliament (MPs) from travelling abroad keeping in view the likely introduction of a no-confidence motion against the prime minister by the opposition parties, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Taking notice of the report aired by 24NewsHD TV channel about the MPs being sent on foreign trips by the National Assembly speaker, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif barred parliamentarians of the party from leaving the country.

Shehbaz Sharif, on the special instructions of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, asked MPs of the party to make sure their presence in the country for the upcoming no-confidence motion.

“The MPs must stay in the country as no-confidence motion is about to take place,” he said.

“The National Assembly speaker is conspiring to send the MPs on foreign trips,” he added.

“The MPs should keep themselves from becoming part of the speaker’s foreign trips campaign,” he stated.

Similarly, PPP Parliamentarians chief whip Shazia Murree said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had asked the MPs of the party to ensure their presence in Islamabad.

She said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had asked the party MPs to cancel their foreign trips. “He has also asked the PPP parliamentarians to avoid going on foreign trips with government delegations,” she added.

The 24NewsHD TV channel yesterday had broadcasted the news of MPs being sent on foreign trips reportedly to foil the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the Opposition has geared up its remove-government efforts as it has directed all its MNAs to reach Islamabad by tonight in connection with the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

According to sources, the instructions regarding summoning of opposition members of the National Assembly in the federal capital have been relayed after the consultation of the parliamentary heads of the opposition parties. They called upon their members to reach Islamabad in any case by tonight. 

Sources revealed that the opposition parties would kick start their anti-government activities in the parliament from tomorrow. 

The opposition will submit a requisition for summoning the National Assembly session next week, they added. 

Reporters Awais Kiyani and Usman Kiyani