Imran’s days are numbered, no rhetoric can save him now: opposition

Major opposition leaders including PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari addressed the media after submitting the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan in National Assembly on Tuesday.

“This government has inflicted unprecedented damage on country’s economy during its almost four years in power,” said Shehbaz at the start of the joint presser while explaining the reason as to why opposition submitted the no-confidence motion against PM Imran.

“Inflation has touched historic highs… the lives of masses have been made miserable by ‘selected’ prime minister.”

The PML-N president also rubbished the premier’s allegations that opposition’s attempt to topple his government was part of the “international conspiracy”. “I don’t think there could be a more stupid and illogical allegation than this,” he said.

Also read: No-trust threat takes its toll on PM Imran

Shehbaz said the “political victimisation” of opponents by PM Imran in the guise of accountability was also one of the reasons that opposition decided to oust the premier.

Maulana Fazl

Speaking on the occasion, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who also heads the anti-government opposition alliance PDM, said, “He [PM Imran] tried to promote western agenda in Pakistan through NGOs… I had said earlier that he [Imran Khan] was agent of some foreign elements”.

“We rejected the results of 2018 elections and termed them rigged... we did not compromise on our stance that the nation’s mandate was stolen.”

The JUI-F chief said their movement against the “selected rulers” has vindicated their stance regarding the rigged elections.

He also agreed with Shehbaz’s view that the incumbent government has destroyed the country’s economy, saying that “this is the reason that no foreign investor is willing to invest in Pakistan”.

“We have submitted the no-confidence motion and his [PM Imran] days are numbered and no rhetoric could save him now.”

Fazl said he never trusted PM Imran’s pre-election promises of providing millions of jobs and low-cost houses. “But now the people have also realised that his all promises were fake.”

The JUI-F chief said no one had criticised the western policies more than him but he did not want to fight with anyone and wanted cordial ties with all countries.

“We are confident that this no-confidence motion will succeed and nation will soon get rid of these rulers.”

“We all are political and democratic forces… we want all institutions to function within their constitutional boundaries so that no allegations of political meddling arises in the future,” the JUI-F chief added.

Also read: Absolutely no NRO till I’m alive: PM Imran

He said that all opposition parties have sorted out most of the matters if PM Imran was removed through no-trust vote.

“The decision to select next candidate of prime minister will be taken with mutual consensus,” said Shehbaz while responding to a question about the opposition’s future strategy if no-trust move succeeded.

Asif Zardari

Speaking on the occasion, former president Asif Ali Zardari said all opposition parties had agreed that no single party alone could steer the country out of the “crisis”.

Responding to a question, he said he is confidence that opposition parties have garnered support of more than 172 MNAs required to remove the premier.

“Not only opposition but ruling PTI lawmakers are also fed up with their government because they have to contest elections and go back to their constituencies,” he added.

While citing an example, Zardari said in the past despite lacking establishment’s support PPP foiled the no-trust move against its government. However, [then] president Farooq Leghari later dissolved the assemblies but we also curtailed the powers of the president,” he said while referring to the Article 58-2(b).

Earlier in the day, senior members of opposition parties submitted the motion to the National Assembly Secretariat. Ayaz Sadiq, Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Rana Sanaullah, Shazia Murree, Naveed Qamar and Shahida Akhtar Ali and Alia Kamran were among those who reached the parliament to submit the motion.

Read more: Opposition submits no-confidence motion against PM Imran in NA

The no-confidence motion was submitted to Additional Secretary of the National Assembly Muhammad Mushtaq with the signatures of 86 members, said sources.

Speaking to the media after submitting the motion, PML-N's Rana Sanaullah said that "all plans of the government will fail" and the opposition has the required numbers on its side to turn the tables.

Under the rules, opposition requires the support of 172 MNAs to oust the premier through no-trust move.

Reacting to the development, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wrote “democracy is the best revenge” on his official Twitter handle.

This will be updated...