Pakistan

Iqbal sceptical about PPP’s no-trust plan against Buzdar

PML-N leader says his party will support if the fellow opposition party has workable plan

RAMEEZ KHAN October 27, 2021

Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal. PHOTO: PID

LAHORE:

Senior Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday his party would be more than happy to bring the Punjab government down as proposed by the Pakistan People Party (PPP) but stressed that the PPP should present a workable plan.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Iqbal, PML-N general secretary, said that if the PPP was serious about a change in the province, they should bring their plan on the table and if it was workable the PML-N would support it wholeheartedly.

Iqbal’s reaction came as the PPP had recently asked the PML-N to consider bringing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri said that no-trust motion against Buzdar should be moved first.

“Surely the PPP will not be basing its proposal on their mere six MPAs [members of the provincial assembly],” Iqbal said. “If they (PPP) have the support of MPAs of the treasury benches, they should relay it to us and the PML-N will be more than happy to put the plan into action,” he added.

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PPP parliamentary leader in Punjab Assembly Hasan Murtaza told The Express Tribune that there were several small groups on the treasury benches, adding that these groups were looking toward the opposition parties to lead them.

“There is no hidden game plan here. It is rather a matter of common sense,” Murtaza said. “If the PML-N considers the option of bringing an in-house change, these groups will eventually join them. “The PML-N should take a cue from Yousaf Raza Gilani’s victory on a Senate seat in the National Assembly.”

Murtaza said if the PML-N considered the option of no-trust motion against the chief minister, the March Senate elections episode could be repeated in the provincial assembly. “Obviously, the PPP will not do it for the PML-N, but the party could teach them how to achieve it.”