Allies to ‘announce support’ before NA session

Fawad holds talks with PML-Q’s Pervaiz Elahi; says coalition partners standing by govt

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:

Three days have passed since the opposition filed its much-hyped no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the coalition partners of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have yet to explicitly express their support for the government.

Premier Imran personally visited the leaders of two key allies, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) in Lahore and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in Karachi, recently, but both the parties haven’t yet announced their definite support for the government.

In his public rallies, PM Imran is putting up a brave face but his concerns are stated to be growing manifolds in the absence of a firm announcement from the coalition partners. The government’s chief spokesperson, however, on Friday claimed that the allies stood by the PTI.

One reason, resonating in the power corridors is that the lawmakers have not yet received any phone calls from the powerful quarters that they used to get before making any crucial move in and outside parliament.

Though the opposition is demanding neutrality from the ‘state’ – a tacit reference to the establishment – the prime minister and his key ministers have openly been saying that the Constitution mandates the institution to stand with the government, instead of staying neutral.

“Phone calls usually come on a particular day or just a day before something is to be done,” a lawmaker from a PTI coalition partner said on the condition of anonymity. “Time for receiving phone calls has yet to come, so I can’t really say if the establishment is neutral on the no-confidence motion.”

The lawmaker spoke to The Express Tribune after the speech of PM Imran on Friday. “I can’t really say how would they [establishment] take the statement [of the prime minister],” the lawmaker added.

Unlike the previous occasions, when the allies openly supported the government, this time around Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry is the first one to claim that the government allies will formally extend full support to PM Imran before the National Assembly session is called.

Fawad’s statement comes at a time when it has been stated that the PML-Q has demanded that its senior leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi be made the Punjab chief minister even before calling the National Assembly session on the no-confidence motion.

PML-Q’s Tariq Basheer Cheema, to whom the statement has been attributed, was asked to confirm the development but he did not respond till filing of the story. A PML-Q official in Lahore also refused to confirm or deny the reports of demanding the chief minister’s post in return for supporting the government.

“Before summoning of the session on no-confidence motion, all the PTI allies will formally announce giving vote of confidence to Prime Minister Imran and the prevailing situation of uncertainty would come to an end,” Fawad said after a meeting with Elahi on Friday.

Fawad, flanked by State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib, said that it was imperative to end the political uncertainty as around 40 foreign ministers and 200 delegations of various countries would be in Islamabad to attend the Islamic Conference, being hosted by Pakistan on March 23.

To a question about his meeting with the Punjab Assembly speaker, Fawad said that the current political situation was discussed in detail as the PML-Q and the PTI were allies and there had been full unanimity of views and mutual trust.

“The PML-Q and the PTI are on the same page about the major decisions to be taken in the future,” Fawad said. “Most of the reservations of the PML-Q have been redressed, while the remaining will be addressed soon.”

Listing another reason to show that the PML-Q was with the PTI, Fawad said, “The PML-Q stands with the government as its members are part of the cabinet.”

To another question, he added that the decision related to Punjab would be taken after reaching a consensus with the stakeholders. On estranged PTI leaders, Aleem Khan and Jahangir Tareen, he said that they were still part of the party.

A PML-Q official in Lahore, said that speculation about demanding one thing or the other, or siding with the government or the opposition, emerged in the media on a daily basis and the party could not issue “clarifications every day”.

The official, also requesting anonymity, said that the PML-Q “has no problem with Buzdar and enjoys cordial relations” with him but added that “if he [Buzdar] is to be replaced then Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi should be given this portfolio”.

According to the PML-Q official, the situation “is very fluid”, so nothing could be stated in a few words. He added that seeking the chief minister’s post would mean that his party had put its cards on the table. He stressed that the party was viewing the situation and would decide their future plan in due course.