ISLAMABAD: The prime minister won a vote of confidence from parliament on Saturday, securing 180 votes, against the 172 required to win confidence, the speaker announced.
Shehbaz Sharif had convened parliament — which is currently being boycotted by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the nation’s largest opposition political party — to prove his majority, after the Supreme Court cast doubt on his support.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari moved a resolution, declaring: “The National Assembly […] reposes its full confidence in the leadership of Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, as the Prime Minister of […] Pakistan.”
The confidence motion was passed by a simple voice vote with lawmakers rising from their seats to express their support.
Officials confirmed to the media that Sharif came to this decision after holding consultations with MPs from the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition. He had a meeting with them at a luncheon earlier in the day.
According to The News, Sharif was supposed to hold the vote on Wednesday afternoon but deferred it until today.
The development comes days after the information minister denied reports that Sharif has decided to seek a vote of confidence. Marriyum Aurangzeb tweeted there had been no consultation on the topic and that there was no need for it, as the prime minister was “unanimously elected” as the Leader of the House in the National Assembly in April of last year.
Geo News claimed that members of the opposition could participate in the vote of confidence.
PM thanks PML-N Parliamentary Party, coalition parties for their trust over him
Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the PML-N Parliamentary Party and the leadership and legislators of coalition parties for their continued trust over him.
In a tweet on Thursday, he said coalition politics is a unique experience in Pakistan’s democratic evolution and we are united in strengthening Parliament.
Grateful to PML-N Parliamentary Party, and the leadership & legislators of coalition parties for their continued trust in me. Coalition politics is a unique experience in Pakistan's democratic evolution. We are united in strengthening Parliament & saying no to politics of diktat.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 27, 2023
The National Assembly on Thursday reposed ‘complete’ confidence in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership.
Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and the Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, tabled the resolution, on which 180 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) voted yes, as opposed to 174 when Shehbaz was elected as the prime minister in April last year.
“The National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan reposes its full confidence in the Leadership of Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the resolution read.
‘Historic display of unity in NA’
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday said there was a historic display of unity in the National Assembly as 180 members of the House reposed their full confidence in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
180
count ! pic.twitter.com/RxbUIa4kKl— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) April 27, 2023
“Historic display of Unity and Strength – 180,” the minister wrote on her Twitter handle, attaching the “supplementary orders of the day” that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will move the resolution in the National Assembly reposing full confidence in the leadership of the prime minister.
