LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Imran Khan for his decision to seek a vote of confidence in parliament.
Khan’s announcement came hours after former prime minister and Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) joint candidate from Islamabad Yousaf Raza Gillani defeated Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Wednesday, receiving 169 votes to the latter’s 164.
The loss represents a significant blow to the prime minister and the government because the electoral college in Shaikh’s case was the National Assembly (NA) where the PTI enjoys a comfortable majority.
“Despite the fact that PTI emerged as the largest single party in Senate, Prime Minister Imran Khan took a bold decision to seek the vote of confidence from the National Assembly,” Firdous said in a tweet.
تحریک انصاف سینیٹ کی بڑی جماعت بن کر سامنے آئی مگر اسکے باوجود وزیراعظم عمران خان نے ایوان سے اعتماد کا ووٹ لینےکا دلیرانہ فیصلہ کرکے اپوزیشن کو بڑا چیلنج دیا ہے۔ اپوزیشن کو اپنی اکثریت ثابت کرنا ہوگی وگرنہ پیسے کی چمک سے ضمیروں کی سوداگری اور ووٹوں کی خریداری کا حساب دینا ہوگا
— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousPTI) March 4, 2021
PM Imran’s decision, she said, is a challenge to the opposition, which should either show its number in the House or be ready to be held accountable for horse-trading during elections.
“Imran Khan and his party has reached a consensus decision that Imran Khan will take a vote of confidence from the parliament,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told a news conference on Wednesday evening.
Minister for Information Senator Shibli Faraz said that the move was to show PM Imran’s political opponents that he still had the confidence of parliament and it was the “sign of a brave man.”
