NA passes no-confidence motion against PM Khan with 174 votes

The National Assembly Saturday passed a no-confidence motion against Prime minister Imran Khan as Ayaz Sadiq chaired the session after resignations of Speaker Asad Qaiser and deputy speaker Qasim Suri.

This also ended a weeks-long drama that reached its peak on Saturday when the National Assembly met to take up the voting on the no-confidence motion on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The treasury bench boycotted the voting session and only Ali Muhammad Khan and Amir Dogar remained in the assembly.

PPP’s Naveed Qamar moved the motion after a brief adjournment of the session, the fifth of the day, as midnight approached.

The no-confidence motion got 174 votes in favour to de-seat PM Khan from his post. He became the first prime minister in Pakistan who succumbed to a no-confidence motion.

"174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution, consequently the resolution for the vote on no-confidence against Mr Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been passed by a majority," Ayaz Sadiq announced after the process of voting was completed. 

Following the announcement of the result, the speaker called Shehbaz Sharif to deliver a speech.

"We cannot thank Allah enough for allowing us to see this new day," said Shehbaz. 

He lauded the members of the Opposition for their patience and particularly thanked former president Asif Zardari, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and several other party leaders their support.

Shehbaz said they would put the economy to right and would not resort to revenge tactics. However, he said the law would take its due course but they would not interfere in the court's matters.

"When the time comes, we will speak in detail, but we want to heal the wounds of the nation; we will not send innocent people to jails, and we will not take revenge," Shebaz said, noting that the law will take its course without interference.

"Neither I, nor Bilawal, nor will Maulana Fazlur Rehman interfere. Law will be upheld and we will respect the judiciary," Shahbaz said, thanking Sadiq for chairing the historic session.

"Jab apna qafla azm o yakeen se niklay ga, jahan se chahen ge rasta wohi se niklay ga, watan ki mitti airian ragrne day, mujhe yaqeen hai chashman yaheen se niklayga," Shahbaz concluded.

PPP's Bilawal Zardari congratulated all for the return of old Pakistan and again reiterated that the democracy is the best revenge.

"I would like to congratulate the whole nation and this House, as for the first time in the history of the country, a no-confidence motion has succeeded and we have made history," said Bilawal.

Speaking on the occasion, the PPP chairman recalled what had happened on April 10, adding that on this day, the country approved the 1973 Constitution.

"On April 10, 1986, Benazir Bhutto ended her self-imposed exile and arrived in Lahore to launch her struggle against Ziaul haq," said Bilawal.

The PPP chairman said that on April 10, 2022, the person who was declared "selected” by the Opposition and proved himself to be an “undemocratic burden” on the country saw the end of his rule. 

“Today [on] April 20, 2022, we welcome [you] back to the purana Pakistan,” said Bilawal.

Bilawal said that he had joined the National Assembly only three to four years ago, adding that whatever he has learned during this time is probably more than he had learnt throughout his life.

“I have a message for the Pakistani youth that they should never give up on their dreams as nothing is impossible. Democracy is the best revenge. Pakistan Zindabad,” said Bilawal.

Taking the floor, MQM Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said this occasion is not merely to celebrate “but show gratefulness as this time is more of a test than a reward.”

He hoped that the alliance between the joint Opposition and the change of regime does not convert into a change of behaviour of the Opposition leaders.

Siddiqui said that it is now the responsibility of the Parliament to move forward and reinstate the confidence that the leaders have received after the success of the no-confidence motion to the people of Pakistan.

“We neither want Naya Pakistan nor do we want Purana Pakistan, we want a better Pakistan,” the MQM-P leader reiterated.

Earlier, Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the session four times in the day after long speeches delivered from the treasury benches.

National Assembly Speaker Qaiser resigned from his post saying he could not take part in a foreign conspiracy to oust the prime minister.

Asad Qaiser said he is bound to his oath. He announced that he cannot carry as NA speaker and announced to resign from his post.

Earlier, the session, called to decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion, was adjourned multiple times before voting on the resolution could take place.

Before announcing his resignation, Qaiser said that he had received "important documents" from the cabinet, which he invited the leader of the opposition and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to see.

"In line with our laws and the need to stand for our country, I have decided that I can't remain on the position of speaker and thereby resign," he said.

Because this is a national duty and it is the Supreme Court's decision, I will ask the panel chairman Ayaz Sadiq to run the session.

After Sadiq took the chair, he paid tribute to Qaiser for remaining with his party and opting for an "honourable exit".

"He [Qaiser] had a very good relationship with all of us, a working relationship. He tried to conduct all these proceedings with dignity and together with the opposition."

After that, he began voting on the resolution at 11:58pm, asking members in favour of the resolution to exit the gate on his left. He then adjourned the session for four minutes since according to rules, the same session cannot continue past midnight.

The new session then began at 12:02am, with recitation of the Holy Quran and naat.