ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has secured a vote of confidence from the National Assembly with 180 votes in his favor on Thursday.
The assembly of 342 members required 172 votes to secure the trust vote. However, the death of former minister for religious affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor reduced the total number to 341. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto tabled the resolution seeking trust vote in the NA.
The resolution, which was passed by 180 members, stated that “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 in the assembly, PM Shehbaz thanked Allah Almighty and 180 members for reposing trust in him. He addressed the assembly floor and said that they did not accept the decision of the three-member bench but accepted the verdict of four judges. He also added that if the court orders him to go home, he is always ready but he shall keep the parliament in high esteem.
PM Shehbaz further said that they are politicians and do not have any weapons or sticks, adding that they could only talk.
He said that there is no harm in holding talks and he expects to sit with the PTI at a table in the evening.
He blamed the PTI government for the economic crisis in Pakistan, stating that Pakistan was prospering before the 2018 elections.
He also added that the entire world is aware of how the RTS (Result Transmission System) was compromised in 2018 and the election results were manipulated.
PM Shehbaz went on to say that former PM Imran Khan dissolved two assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to create hurdles when talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were going on.
He added that the incumbent government is importing Russian oil that will soon arrive in Pakistan, and had he come to the government as a result of a foreign conspiracy, his government would not have imported oil from Russia.
Sources revealed that the PM had consulted with the parties in the ruling alliance at lunch, after which he decided to take the vote.
They added that when the PM informed them about his intention, the allies told him that they had “full confidence in you” and that he could take a vote of confidence from the house anytime.
It may be noted that after the rejection of a money bill put before the National Assembly for the release of Rs21 billion to conduct elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, political circles opined that it was a sign of mistrust in his leadership, and he should obtain a vote of confidence.
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
