Pakistani parliament's key session adjourned without proceedings

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - A crucial session of Pakistan's lower house, the National Assembly, summoned to table a no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday was adjourned until next week.

Adjournment of a session to pay homage to deceased lawmakers is a longtime parliamentary tradition in Pakistan.

Speaker Asad Qaisar adjourned the session until Monday after prayers for the departed souls of Haji Khayal Zaman Orakzai, former President Muhammad Rafiq Tarar, Rehman Malik and others.

Opposition parties filed the motion earlier this month, claiming Khan has lost his parliamentary majority.

It is said that defection of dissident lawmakers, and suggestions that coalition partners may join the opposition, has left Khan short of the minimum – 172 – needed for a simple majority in the parliament.

But the allies, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-I-Azam, Balochistan Awami Party and Muttahida Quami Movement, remain undecided whether to support or oppose the no-confidence motion.

The government has also filed a court petition to determine if dissident votes against the prime minster can be declared invalid.

Under the law, parliamentarians who defect could lose their seats if they choose to vote against their party.​​​​​​

Khan claims to have a "surprise" up his sleeve for the opposition, and has said he will emerge victorious. In a show of strength, his party is also holding a rally in the capital Islamabad on Sunday.