PM Shehbaz Sharif wins vote of confidence from National Assembly

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday won a vote of confidence from the National Assembly as 180 lawmakers reposed trust in his leadership, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Announcing the results, Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that 180 members of the house reposed complete confidence in the leadership Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The resolution, moved by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, stated: “The National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan reposes its full confidence in the leadership of Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”

After securing the trust vote, the prime minister expressed gratitude to the lawmakers who voted for him. He also went up to the seat of Opposition Leader Raja Riaz of the PTI to thank him.

A total of 180 Members of the National Assembly voted in favour of the trust vote, as opposed to 174 when Shehbaz Sharif was elected as the prime minister last year.

The government decided to ask for a trust vote after the National Assembly rejected a money bill put out by the government to fund the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PM’s address at luncheon for MPs

While adopting a categorical stance on the date of elections during an address to the parliamentarians at a luncheon, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday that elections in the country would take place on the same day, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The prime minister placed the overall situation of the country before the parliamentarians, stating that the Parliament was supreme and its decision would have to be accepted.

“The government will ensure the implementation of the decisions of the Parliament on every issue. No matter what anyone does, there will be no compromise on the supremacy of the Parliament,” he stressed.

The prime minister also decided to take a vote of confidence from the MNAs. He took the vote of confidence during the National Assembly session.

Meanwhile, a journalist put a question to former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari about talks.

“Ask Bilawal,” he said.

“Does the prime minister need a vote of confidence?” another question was posed to Asif Zardari.

“What do we know about the news. We are faqirs. We go where we are led to,” Asif Zardari

“Are the negotiations likely to go ahead?” a journalist put a question to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

“If I get a chance, I will talk to the media,” he replied.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani