Zardari seeks JI’s support for no-trust motion

Pakistan Peoples Party Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday met with Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and sought his support for bringing the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, apprising him of the decisions taken by the opposition parties so far.

However, the JI has sought a few days to put the entire matter before their Central Majlis-e-Shura.

Zardari called on Haq at JI Central Headquarter Mansoorah in Lahore. During the meeting, the former president informed the JI chief of the understanding reached thus far between the anti-government political parties and that they would first plan and later consolidate support for the no-trust motion.

A source in the JI revealed that the party was informed that the opposition parties had enough support in the National Assembly to take the government down comfortably, however, a few issues had yet to be ironed out.

He said that Zardari had informed Haq that he had proposed the name of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif as the next prime minister. “We do not know if Shehbaz has agreed to the option or not.”

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He said when Zardari was asked if the PPP and other parties supporting the no-confidence motion would take their share of ministries, he replied that the PPP was only interested in the National Assembly speaker’s slot.

He said that Zardari replied that the PML-N could have all the ministries for itself, adding that the JI chief was informed that the opposition parties first wanted to undo a lot of controversial legislations passed during the PTI stint, before moving towards mid-term elections.

He said a pending issue that needed to be resolved was of Punjab, where the PPP was proposing that the PML-Q be given the government while the PML-N was not agreeing.

When asked about the timeframe of the no-confidence motion, the source replied that the move, according to his understanding, might take some time and not come as early as being said. He said that Zardari was informed that the entire matter would be kept before Central Majlis-e-Shura to seek its approval.

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Speaking to media after the meeting, former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf who was part of the PPP delegation which met the JI chief, said Pakistan politics and current state of the affairs of the country were discussed during the meeting with the JI amir.

He said that owing to sheer incompetence of the government, country was passing through uncertain times. He said that they hope the JI would support those who were on the path of righteousness.

JI leader Liaquat Baloch said after listening to the decision reached thus far, Haq made it clear that it was the right of every political party to exercise all the constitutional options available to them to come up to the expectations of the people. “We have called the Majlis-e-Shura session to decide on the matter.”

JI Information Secretary Qaiser Sharif said that the PPP only sought support for the no-confidence motion and not their long march.