U-Turn: PM Imran Khan directs PTI MNAs to attend NA session on no-trust motion, say sources

• PM Imran Khan directs his MNAs to attend the crucial session of the National Assembly and participate in the voting process.
• The prime minister is committed to thwart the no-confidence motion against him.
• PM Imran Khan will be present in the NA during voting on the no-confidence motion.  

ISLAMABAD: In a last-ditch effort to save his government from being toppled down, Prime Minister Imran Khan took another U-turn on Saturday by directing his MNAs to attend the crucial session of the National Assembly and participate in the voting process, sources told Geo News.

On March 30, PM Imran Khan had "strictly" directed PTI's members of the National Assembly (MNAs) to either abstain from voting or not attend the session when the no-confidence motion is voted in the House.

PM Imran Khan is confident that it would defeat the no-confidence motion against him, the sources said, adding that the premier has decided to fight till the last ball.

The prime minister himself will attend the crucial session of the Lower House tomorrow (April 3), said the sources.

Earlier, in a letter to the PTI MNAs, the prime minister, who is the party's chairman, had said: "All the members of the [PTI] in the National Assembly shall abstain from voting/not attend the meeting of the National Assembly on the date when the said resolution is set out on the agenda."

PM Imran Khan had told the MNAs that no PTI member should attend or make themselves available on the time and day of the voting on the resolution of no-confidence.

The prime minister had said that all members are "required to adhere to his directions in true letter and spirit" and should keep in mind the "intention behind the provision of Article 63(A) of the Constitution of Pakistan."

The premier had warned the party lawmakers that "every or any" violation of the directions would be treated as an "express defection" in terms of Article 63(A). The letter had also mentioned that designated PTI members would speak during the debate on the no-confidence motion.

'Foreign hand'

On March 27, PM Imran Khan had revealed that "foreign elements" are involved in the attempts to topple his government and said, "some of our own people" are being used in this regard.

The premier was speaking during one of the "biggest" rallies in his party's history at the Parade Ground in Islamabad as the Opposition has geared up to oust the premier from office through the no-confidence motion. 

The premier, while flashing a letter before the public, had said that he had "written evidence" that "money had been pouring in from abroad," while "some of our people are being used to topple the government."

He had said that for months, "plotting and planning is being carried out to influence the foreign policy of Pakistan from outside."

"We know who is behind it," the premier had said, adding that "there are a lot of things that will be revealed before the nation but at the right time."

"The nation wants to know who the man in London [Nawaz] meets and they also wish to find out who is instructing those politicians living in Pakistan."