Opposition’s feverish efforts to win over MPs continue
PHOTO: EXPRESS
A day after a confident-looking opposition submitted a no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan, there has been much wheeling and dealing in the federal capital and in Punjab’s capital Lahore on Wednesday.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the chief of the PML-Q, a key coalition partner of the ruling PTI at the Centre as well as in Punjab, called on PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari at the latter’s residence in Islamabad to discuss the no-confidence motion against the government.
Separately, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also met Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq in Islamabad asking his backing for the no-trust move and in return the religio-political party placed its demand for fresh elections.
A day earlier, Shujaat, who previously only received guests including PM Imran, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif after a gap of 14 years, and Zardari at his residence in Lahore, also met with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who also heads the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), at the latter’s house.
Shujaat met with Zardari accompanied by Federal Housing Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema and Chaudhry Salik Hussain. The political situation in the country was discussed in detail during the meeting.
PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, whose party is part of the PDM, and PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, also held separate meetings with the JI chief seeking his support for the no-trust move.
Read No-trust threat takes its toll on PM Imran
Sources said the JI had agreed to support the no-confidence motion only if fresh general elections in the country were held immediately.
The JI chief, after his meeting with the PML-N president, told reporters that a no-trust move was a democratic method of ousting a government.
“Shehbaz Sharif came to us like many other parties and gave us options for the no-trust move,” he added.
Haq further maintained that the present government had failed to provide relief to the people and made lives miserable for them instead.
“Tax has been imposed even on a drop of water. Lives have been made unbearable for the people.”
The JI chief said he had told the PML-N president that his party would discuss and decide the suggestions he had presented to it.
Read more All eyes on PTI dissidents, allies
“Instead of changing individuals, it is necessary to change the system. We have suggested to Shehbaz Sharif that he should reach out to the people. If the system is not delivering, a new government with a fresh mandate should address the people’s woes,” he added, saying that the PML-N president had agreed to this to a certain extent.
Haq suggested that all parties should sit together to discuss electoral reforms and holding polls without them would be futile.
Speaking on the occasion, Shehbaz said on behalf of the united opposition, the JI had been asked to support the no-confidence move.
“This is the issue of 220 million people. A common man’s life has been made unendurable. These are the reasons that we have filed a requisition for a no-confidence motion.”
The PML-N president, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, maintained that the opposition wanted to serve the people with a fresh mandate.
“It is our right to talk to every political party. We will also speak to members of the PTI.”
The PML-Q has for the first time indicated to PM Imran that it would have no choice but to support the opposition in its no-trust move in case 15 or 20 more lawmakers from the treasury benches switched sides.
Federal Housing Minister Tariq Cheema of the PML-Q in a meeting with the prime minister told him that though his party stood by the PTI, if the ruling party split up, the PML-Q would have to review its policy.