Islamabad:
A political storm may be brewing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when Governor Faisal Karim Kundi confirmed on Saturday that both the ruling alliance and opposition seriously weigh a non-confidence to move against Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur-Midt in a changing tide in the assembly after the Supreme Court’s decision on reserved seats.
In an exclusive conversation, the KP governor said the opposition reserves the democratic right to bring a non-confidence to the provincial government when it has a numeric edge in the assembly and says why any resistance would wait if it has numbers.
Governor Kundi clarified that there has not yet been a formal attempt to remove the KP government, but the opposition worked actively to consolidate support.
“We (reign alliance and provincial opposition) are working seriously on it. The numbers have changed in the assembly. The opposition is in no hurry, but it won’t wait when the number is completed,” he said.
Governor Kundi said the opposition parties are currently holding about 54 seats in the KP assembly and seeing an opening to ensure support from nearly 35 independent members.
“No opposition party would wait even for a moment if it can surpass the reigning party in any assembly,” he said.
With the support of the independent MPAs, Governor Kundi said while answering a question that the task of removing the PTI-LED KP government was achievable as the affection clause would not apply to them.
By 2024, the Supreme Court had established that legislators who cross the floor will have their votes spoken even if they are subsequently disqualified. This would require choices on all seats they vacate.
In contrast, if the opposition is dependent on independent members in support, no election would arise as their participation does not contravene constitutional provisions.
Under Article 136 of the Constitution, the Minister of Chief may be removed through a vote on non-confidence supported by a majority of the overall membership of the provincial assembly.
Alternatively, the governor may, in accordance with Article 130 (2).
In both cases, support from at least 73 MPAs in the 145-member assembly is required, which indicates that the opposition is currently short with approx. 19 to 20 votes. Governor Kundi rejected the notion that the ruling alliance in the center rushed into any political maneuver.
“Work is in progress. When the number is there, we are not delaying,” he said.
With reference to the CM Gandapurs repeated public span and warnings, Kundi said, “The Chief Minister continues to throw challenges. But we will act when it matters.”
Kundi, who drew a parallel with the political events in April 2022, remembered that a non-confidence was made to the then Prime Minister Imran Khan successfully at that time.
“At that time, the PTI government also claimed that no one could remove them. Everyone saw what happened then,” he said.
When asked about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had instructed him to initiate the move against the KP government during their recent meeting, the governor stated that although the case was discussed, there were no specific directions issued.
“Yes, we discussed the situation after the decision on reserved seats, but there was no order or specific task from the prime minister,” he said.
On a lighter note, Kundi said while referring to CM KP’s repeated challenges that he would end politics if someone is turning off, “We don’t want Gandapur to become unemployed or end politics.”
In comments on coordination within the opposition, Kundi recognized the political relevance of Jui-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and said interactions take place to discuss different things and the rapidly changing political situation.
Kundi said Maulana is a senior figure with tremendous political experience and says that meetings and consultations with political leaders such as him are routinely kept.
The recent changes in the reserved seat distributions have changed the political equation in KP, which results in discussions at the highest level within the prevailing coalition. Although no formal step has yet been taken, political observers believe the possibility of a non-confidence movement has become significantly possible if independent changes pages.
They say that the coming days are likely to be crucial to determining whether PTI retains its grip on the province or is facing a repeat in April 2022.
