Earlier, the Pakistan Supreme Court restored the National Assembly and also ordered voting on the no-trust motion brought against his government by a united opposition.
The Opposition parties need 172 members in the 342-member house to ensure the ouster of Prime Minister Khan.
They have garnered the support of more than the needed strength with the help of some allies of the ruling coalition and rebels from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of the 69-year-old cricketer-turned politician.
Imran Khan, who came to power in 2018, purpotedly with the military’s support, recently lost his parliamentary majority when allies quit his coalition government.
Here are the key points from Pakistan’s assembly session:
*Leader of Opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif told the speaker to conduct the session as per the order of the Supreme Court and said that the Opposition will oust the “selected” prime minister by adopting a lawful and constitutional procedure.
*Speaker Asad Qaiser, who is chairing the session, said that the house should hold a discussion about the “foreign conspiracy” hatched against the PTI government. However, his suggestion was met with loud protesting chants from Opposition members.
* Foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in National Assembly said it is the constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it’s the government’s duty to defend it
*Pakistan’s parliament abruptly adjourned before a planned vote on ousting Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the speaker said the assembly would reconvene later on Saturday.
*After reading details of a court ruling ordering the vote, which Khan’s allies had blocked last Sunday, Speaker Asad Qaisar adjourned the session, saying it would resume at 12:30 p.m. (0730 GMT).
* Asad Qaiser did not give a reason for halting the session before the vote, which Khan is widely expected to lose, but said he would obey the court order.
*A delegation of Pakistan Opposition leaders met with National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in his chamber on Saturday and demanded immediate voting on the no-confidence motion that could seal the fate of embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan, following the adjournment of the session over ruckus in Parliament.
