Voting on no-confidence motion is going to take place a few hours from now to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan. It is going to happen on the Supreme Court’s order after the president dissolved the assembly on the prime minister’s advice as Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri rejected the opposition’s motion.
But the voting on the motion would not take place in a couple of hours’ struggle — it took months of planning to move the motion against the premier.
Let’stake a look at the events and happenings that took place before the voting on the crucial no-confidence motion.
By the end of 2021 — PPP contacted PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to move a no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan
November 28, 2021 — PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah, indicating an in-house change in the parliament, said the opposition would have enough numbers to oust PM Imran Khan
December 24, 2021 — PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq also hinted the opposition was preparing for in-house change
January 11, 2022 — PML-N stalwart Khawaja Asif said the government had lost the majority; an in-house change will be made
January 18, 2022 — PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said a no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman would not oust the government; the opposition wants to send the PM home
January 21, 2022 — Ayaz Sadiq said the opposition is ready for a no-confidence motion against PM, the time would be decided later
February 7, 2022 — PML-N, PPP officially discuss no-trust motion against premier; PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said under party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, PML-N was ready for the move. Following this, both parties began contact with opposition parties and government allies
February 8, 2022 — Shehbaz presents the option of a no-confidence motion against PM to MQM-P. Amir Khan announces to table the request before the party’s coordination committee
February 11, 2022 — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on behalf of the Opposition, announces to bring a no-confidence motion against PM
The PTI-led government did not take the threat seriously and challenged the opposition to table the no-confidence motion.
February 14, 2022 — Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the government would challenge the no-confidence motion politically as the “umpire” was also neutral
February 22, 2022 — Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid challenged the opposition to gather 172 MNAs in their camp
February 23, 2022 (when PM left for Russia’s visit) — Defence Minister Pervez Khattak was confident that the no-confidence motion would not be tabled as it was “not easy” to turn PTI MNAs
Judging the statements of the ministers, it can be assumed that the government did not take the no-confidence motion seriously.
March 8, 2022 — Opposition finally tables no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan
March 9, 2022 — PM Imran said PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was his next target and that he wanted the opposition to move the no-confidence motion against him
March 10, 2022 — Bilawal responds to PM Imran Khan’s threat to Zardari, terms it “intolerable” and warns him to get ready for consequences
March 10, 2022 — Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said armed forces are standing with the government
March 10, 2022 — Islamabad police conduct operation inside the Parliament Lodges; arrest more than a dozen Ansar-ul-Islam workers; two MNAs
March 11, 2022 — Following the release of JUI-F workers and leaders, party chief Fazal-ur-Rehman called off country-wide protests
March 11, 2022 — Sheikh Rashid said security of Parliament House and Parliament Lodges to be handed over to paramilitary Rangers and Frontier Corps (FC) on the day the National Assembly votes on the no-trust motion
March 11, 2022 — PM Imran Khan launches scathing attack on three opposition bigwigs — Fazal, Zardari and Shehbaz
March 12, 2022 — Nawaz Sharif and disgruntled PTI leader Aleem Khan discuss the no-trust motion in London
March 12, 2022 — Sheikh Rashid and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi trade barbs as cracks in the government’s coalition appear visible
March 13, 2022 — Key ally MQM-P said it’s keeping all “options” open on the no-confidence motion
March 14, 2022 — PPP and MQM-P come to an agreement and decide to work together for the country’s “greater interest”
March 15, 2022 — PM Imran Khan said the nation’s ready to go down with him rather than supporting the “three stooges”
March 16, 2022 — Speaker Punjab Assembly Pervaiz Elahi claimed 10-12 government lawmakers were in “safe custody” of the opposition
March 18, 2022 — It emerged that around 24 members of the PTI were staying at the Sindh House; PTI announces to issue show-cause notices to dissident MPs; PTI workers resort to violence, barge into Sindh House
March 21, 2022 — Government files a reference for the interpretation of Article 63(A) in the Supreme Court
March 27, 2022 — PM Imran claims that the opposition’s no-confidence move is part of a “foreign-funded conspiracy” hatched to oust him as PTI held a rally in Islamabad
March 28, 2022 — Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif tabled a no-confidence resolution against PM Imran
March 28, 2022 — PTI gets surety of support from PML-Q as Usman Buzdar steps down in favour of Pervaiz Elahi as new chief minister; government’s ally BAP sides with the Opposition
March 28, 2022 — Independent MNA from Balochistan Mohammad Aslam Bhootani quits the ruling coalition and sides with the Opposition
March 30, 2022 — PTI effectively loses majority in the National Assembly as MQM-P decides to part ways with the government
March 31, 2022 — National Assembly session for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan adjourned till April 3
March 31, 2022 — PM Imran Khan names the US as the country that sent a “threat letter” in “slip of tongue” during an address to the nation
April 1, 2022 — State Department and White House together spurned PM Imran Khan’s allegations
April 2, 2022 — On eve of the no-confidence motion, PM Imran Khan calls on the youth to protest against the “foreign conspiracy”
April 3, 2022 — NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismisses the no-confidence motion, terms it “unconstitutional” and wraps up proceedings; President Arif Alvi dissolves NA on PM Imran Khan’s advice; Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of political situation; PM Imran Khan names US Assistant Secretary of State for the South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu as the official who sent “threat letter”
April 7, 2022 — Supreme Court restored the National Assembly; declares the government’s decision to dissolve the assembly and Qasim Suri’s ruling against the Constitution; orders NA Speaker Asad Qaiser to call an assembly session on Saturday
April 8, 2022 — Just a day before the house was set to vote on the no-confidence motion, PM said he will not tolerate the installation of a “foreign government” and will turn to the public for support if such a thing happens
April 9, 2022 — National Assembly session began at 10:30 am to vote on no-confidence motion
