ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a surprise move and decided to take vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA), ARY News reported on Monday.
Sources told ARY News that PM Shehbaz Sharif would take the vote of confidence from the National Assembly on April 27, Thursday.
Sources added that PM Sharif also completed consultations with the former premier and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif and other leaders.
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The premier also directed the NA lawmakers of all coalition parties to ensure their presence in Islamabad.
The decision of confidence vote was taken after the rejection of the Election Funds Bill. A few days ago, the NA with a majority rejected the demand to disburse Rs21 billion funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the Punjab polls.
The premier is bound to take vote of confidence after the rejection of a government bill with a majority. PM Sharif will seek the confidence of at least 172 NA lawmakers on April 27.
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Information minister rejects reports
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb rejected the media reports regarding the decision of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif’s vote of confidence.
In a Twitter message, Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PM Shehbaz Sharif has not taken any decision for taking the vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA).
She said that there is no consultation held for the confidence vote not it is required to PM Shehbaz Sharif. Aurangzeb added that PM Sharif had already taken the vote for the head of the House on April 11, 2022.
“Baseless rumours are not factual. Media should refrain from airing reports regarding the prime minister without getting confirmation,” concluded the information minister.
وزیراعظم نے اعتماد کا ووٹ لینے کا فیصلہ نہیں کیا،ایسی مشاورت ہوئی نہ اس کی ضرورت ہے۔ عوام، پارٹی،اتحادی جماعتوں کے متفقہ امیدوار شہباز شریف 11 اپریل 2022 کو قومی اسمبلی کے قائد ایوان کا ووٹ لے چکے ہیں۔ من گھڑت افواہ حقیقت نہیں۔ میڈیا بغیر تصدیق وزیراعظم سے متعلق خبریں نہ چلائے
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) April 24, 2023
Federal cabinet session
Moreover, PM Sharif also summoned a meeting of the federal cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the political situation. According to sources, the cabinet session will consider over the matters related to the election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The cabinet will also mull over the issues that surfaced in the consultative process among the political parties.
The federal cabinet is likely to be briefed on the economic situation of the country, financing assurances from friendly countries and contacts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), sources added.
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