No-confidence motion submitted against chief minister of Pakistan's largest province

By Kiran Butt

LAHORE, Pakistan (AA) - Opposition in Pakistan's largest province Punjab on Monday submitted a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, days after a similar move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

As many as 127 lawmakers, including those from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People's Party, signed the motion before submitting it to the office of the speaker.

Rana Mashhood, a former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly, told reporters that the speaker is now required to call a session of the provincial assembly within 14 days.

Signatures of 74 lawmakers are needed to trigger a no-confidence vote in the chief minister, he added.

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party holds a majority in the 371-seat assembly and has 183 members. The government is supported by coalition partners including the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, which has 10 members.

Buzdar needs the support of 182 lawmakers to stay in office, but the defection of dissident lawmakers led by influential PTI members Jahangir Tareen and Aleem Khan, and withdrawal of support from coalition partners, who remain undecided, could spell trouble.

Punjab government spokesman Hassan Khawar said they are in contact with assembly members and will face the no-trust move.

Khan, who picked Buzdar for the top post in Punjab in 2018, also faces a no-trust vote in the lower house of parliament. But the motion is yet to be tabled in the National Assembly as its session last week was adjourned without any proceedings.

His coalition government in the center faces a similar situation, with the support of allies being crucial to stay in power.

Earlier this month, the government filed a court petition to determine whether dissident votes against the prime minister can be declared invalid.

Khan held a massive public gathering in the capital on Sunday and alleged that a "foreign-funded conspiracy" was hatched to dislodge his government.

​​​​​​​Under the law, parliamentarians who defect could lose their seats if they choose to vote against their party.​​​​​​