PDM boycotts NA session called for PM Imran’s vote of confidence

By,Shabir Mughal

A day ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s bid to seek a fresh vote of confidence from the Parliament following a shock defeat in Senate’s Islamabad seat, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Friday announced boycott of Saturday’s National Assembly session.
President Dr Arif Alvi had convened a session of lower house on Saturday at 12pm during which PM Imran would seek a vote of confidence from the parliamentarians in an apparent move to counter the opposition’s ability to challenge the legitimacy of his government.The move comes after the ruling party lost the Islamabad general seat to the opposition in the recently held Senate elections.”No member of PDM would participate in tomorrow’s National Assembly session,” PDM Head Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced while addressing a brief news conference in Sukkur. Maulana Fazlur Rehman said tomorrow’s session carries no value as no member of the opposition would participate in it.
He said that the manner in which the prime minister addressed the nation yesterday, it was akin to accepting defeat. “Who will you take out and against whom? PDM? People have already given their verdict,” the JUI-F amir said referring to Imran Khan’s warning of bringing people out on the road against the opposition.
Fazlur Rehman said that Imran Khan called his own party members “salable commodities”. Votes of these members would also be included in tomorrow’s session, he reminded the premier.
“Vote of no-confidence has already been given in the shape of Senate elections… in the victory of Yousuf Raza Gilani,” he added.