Talking to Business Recorder, Abdul Majid Abro, a former adviser to the chief minister who is now supporting opposition parties against Zehri, claimed that they have the support of over 40 lawmakers for the no-confidence motion in a 65-member house.
He said the ruling party members have revolted against the chief minister because they were being sidelined in all provincial development projects and decision-making process while members from other parties particularly Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party were given preference in allocation of funds and job quotas.
"We are one hundred percent sure of getting the no-confidence motion approved as we have support of an overwhelming majority in the House," he claimed. The Article 136 (1) of the Constitution reads: "A resolution for a vote of no-confidence moved by not less than twenty per cent of the total membership of the Provincial Assembly may be passed against the Chief Minister by the Provincial Assembly.
(2) A resolution referred to in clause (1) shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days, or later than seven days, from the day on which such resolution is moved in the Provincial Assembly.
(3) If the resolution referred to in clause (1) is passed by a majority of the total membership of the Provincial Assembly, the Chief Minister shall cease to hold office." Experts claim that in both cases, if the motion is approved or rejected, this would have zero impact on elections of Senate that are scheduled to be held in March this year.
Kanwar Dilshad, former secretary Election Commission of Pakistan, told Business Recorder that the current tussle in the Balochistan Assembly is for an in-house change and therefore the provincial assembly will remain in place to vote for candidates in the senate elections.
He said that even if Governor's rule is imposed on the province, the Speaker Balochistan Assembly will still be able to convene a session to vote for the Senate elections.
Dilshad said that Senate is represented by six units - all four provinces, Islamabad and Federally Administered Tribal Areas - and dissolution of one provincial assembly would not impact on the senate elections, though he acknowledged that the Constitution is silent on the matter. He said that in case of dissolution of Balochistan Assembly, which is not imminent, 12 senators from Balochistan out of 23 would be there in the Senate to represent the province. The Senate comprises 104 members, 23 each from the four provinces, eight from Fata and four from Islamabad.