National Assembly Opposition Leader and head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif called on Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Wednesday to seek his party’s support to oust the premier, a day after the submission of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
It is pertinent to note that the opposition has 162 lawmakers in the National Assembly whereas to oust the prime minister, they require 172 votes. The government and its allies currently hold 179 seats in the lower house.
During the meeting at the residence of Mian Aslam in Islamabad, Shehbaz, on behalf of the joint opposition, requested the JI chief to support the no-trust vote for the sake of 220 million Pakistanis.
He stated that the PTI government has made the lives of the people hell, adding that the ruling party’s mandate was bogus. Shehbaz said the opposition will also make efforts to woo PTI lawmakers.
“We will remove the government through a constitutional process and go to people to seek a fresh mandate,” the PML-N chief added.
Siraj also chided the government over high taxation and hyperinflation. The JI chief said the government has even taxed “every drop of water and morsel of bread”.
He further stated that the no-confidence motion against the premier was a constitutional process, adding that the JI will decide on the no-trust move against the premier after meeting the party leadership.
Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar while talking to media in Lahore, urged the political parties to refrain from horse-trading ahead of the no-trust vote. He said every party should accept whatever will be the outcome of the no-confidence motion.
Speaking about the disgruntled PTI politicians Jahangir Khan Tarin and Aleem Khan, Sarwar said both politicians immensely served the party and the leadership should talk to them to allay their reservations. “Political parties are like a family and it is the job of the top leadership to keep the party intact, else it damages the party,” Sarwar added.
He further revealed that the CM Usman Buzdar will remain the CM as long as he has the support of the prime minister, the PTI and its allies. He said it was the prerogative of the prime minister to appoint the chief minister in the province.
