Dissolution of NWFP Assembly looks impossible before October 6, the 'D-Day' for presidential poll as Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani is likely to take confidence vote. Two opposition parties and their independent allies in NWFP Assembly have submitted no-confidence motion against the chief minister to block dissolution of the assembly before the polls.
The components of All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) also filed a requisition for convening the session of the assembly. Speaker Bakht Jehan Khan has convened the session for Wednesday at 10 am.
Talking to newsmen after filing requisition with the Speaker, NWFP Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Zafar Azam, ANP parliamentary leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour and Anwar Kamal Khan of PML-N were of the view that the matter of no-confidence moved by the opposition would not be constitutionally resolved before October 7, one day after the presidential polls.
The opposition has only submitted no-confidence motion against chief minister without requisitioning the session. However, the ruling alliance, along with their new allies in APDM (PML-N & ANP) had submitted a notice for the convening of the session.
The session requisitioned by APDM would prove that those who have filed no-confidence move lack majority support. "The number of supporters of the no-confidence motion is not more than 25," claimed Zafar.
He said that in case of having the support of at least 25 members, the members belonging to PPP-Sherpao and PML-Q would have submitted application for the requisition of the session of the assembly. "On Wednesday, we would prove that the six extra signatures on the no-confidence were fake," the minister added.
He said that they had informed the central leadership of APDM of the emerging situation in the province and would never become party in the re-election of President General Pervez Musharraf. "In case of failure in the dissolution of the assembly we can go for the option of resignations."
He said that decision regarding resignations had not been withdrawn, rather they have deferred it in the new situation of no confidence motion. "Not only MMA, rather no member of the whole APDM would become party to the presidential polls," Zafar said.
The stand of the parliamentary leader of PPP-Parliamentarian, Abdul Akbar Khan, was totally different. He termed the confidence vote by Chief Minister a drama. He said that the chief minister could not go for taking vote of confidence on his own, as could seek confidence vote only on asking by the Governor.
He said that in case of the submission of requisition by the opposition and after terming it maintainable, the speaker could convene the session. However, he said, the objective for which the session has been convened would be put on top of the agenda. The speaker can also put the matter to vote.