No-trust motion against NA speaker: ARD and MMA still undecided on strategy

By Shaukat Piracha

ISLAMABAD: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) have still not decided on how to go about their no-confidence motion against National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain for tomorrow (Friday), ARD and MMA sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.

Although the two major opposition alliances had together moved the no-confidence motion against the speaker, their parliamentary parties had not met to make a strategy, sources added.

“However, ARD Chairman Amin Fahim and Raja Pervez Ashraf, deputy parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, are scheduled to visit Qazi Hussain Ahmad today (Thursday) in Nowshehra to condole the death of his brother and are expected to discuss tomorrow’s proceedings,” they said.

The ARD and MMA were ready for Friday’s ‘showdown’ in Islamabad, as they had asked their members to remain present in the city, sources said.

Asked whether the opposition would vote in favour of the no-confidence motion when the government had already said it would stay away from the voting, sources said they (opposition) were likely to vote to register a big number. “The initial thinking is that the opposition will create a ruckus in the house and demand the government allow a secret ballot and bring the treasury members inside the house,” sources said, adding that the opposition would try to create a ruckus for as long as possible so that the government’s undemocratic policies were exposed.

Sources also said the ARD and MMA would hold their respective parliamentary party meetings to finalise their strategies before tomorrow’s house proceedings. “Most likely the two alliances will coordinate with each other after the meetings so that a common stance can be adopted when the no-confidence motion is taken up in the house,” sources added.

The opposition had made a similar strategy at the time of a no-confidence motion against the speaker the last time, sources said, adding that a similar strategy was expected tomorrow.

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