LAHORE   -   Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar Monday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) elected members were not likely to vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the no-confidence move of the opposition parties.

Talking to the mediamen during convocation of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) here on Monday, he said that penalty for floor-crossing should very clearly be defined, adding that the government’s decision to go to the Supreme Court for the clarification of Article 63 on the issue of floor-crossing of members was justified. The Punjab governor said that it was the responsibility of the opposition to complete 172 votes to make the no-confidence motion a success, adding that the government would fight constitutionally and democratically. The governor also conferred honorary PhD on Noshina Mubarak, Member Parliament Great Britain, besides distributing awards to the position holders.

Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar said filing presidential reference in the Supreme Court on the issue of floor-crossing of members of the Assembly was not surrender, but it was a constitutional and democratic right of the government.

He said that the apex court should clarify once and for all that if a member was found involved in floor crossing, how long would he be disqualified and what would be the penalty for him. He said if the government sought guidance from the Supreme Court on any matter, no one should object to it.

Sarwar, to a query, said that the no-confidence motion had been tabled by the opposition. “Now, it is the responsibility of the opposition to get 172 votes for its approval,” he said. “As far as the PTI elected members are concerned, there is no doubt that they have a constitutional, legal and moral obligation to vote according to the party-line and must not support some other party,” he added. “I expect that our members of the Assembly will not vote against the party,” he stated. Ch Sarwar said that the decision to convene the OIC conference in Pakistan and to fully welcome the participants of the conference was backed by all the political and religious parties of Pakistan. He said that there would be important consultations and decisions on other issues, including Kashmir, Palestine, and Afghanistan. The Punjab governor said he firmly believed that the dream of development of Pakistan could not be realised without the participation of women in the journey of development, adding that educated women must come forward in practical work. He said that the government was committed to providing social security and confidence to women, adding: “We strive to restore the confidence of our women by addressing the issues of domestic violence and gender inequality.”

 so that they should be able to use their best skills in the journey of collective development of the nation.”