Pakistan Times
Oct. 25, 1989
By Sadiq Jafri
ISLAMABAD―Head count was the game of the day. Different claims were made by both the sides. Journalists remained busy in calculations and re-calculations. But there could be no final assessment.
In any case, it is too early to do that. There is no final word in politics. Things can change any time. Friends can become foes and vice versa.
On Tuesday, too, there was more activity outside the Nation- al Assembly Hall than inside, like the previous day. Cafeteria has suddenly become very important, and so has each and every MNA. Anyone out of the 237 can make big news anytime.
Anyway, the consensus among a few analysts was that the no- confidence motion against the Prime Minister cannot succeed unless there is a defection in PPP.
Now the question was, whether a vote against the party leader and the leader of the House will amount to defection or withdrawal from the party or not, as required by the Section 8-B.