Qureshi speaks highly of allies as no-trust move nears

Speaking highly of government allies on Thursday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the Chaudhry brothers were principled in their politics and will make the right decision at the right time.

He also thanked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) for having the ruling party's back for the past three years, terming the party a respected ally.  

Lamenting the role of some MNAs, the foreign minister said those who have decided to sell their vote cannot be stopped from selling their conscience.

"Every elected member cares about their voters," he said, adding that the party respected all its elected members as they represented millions of people.

According to Qureshi, never in the history of the country had democracy been damaged the way it was being today.

"The opposition neither has a uniform ideology, agenda or flag. They are working on a single-point agenda, that is removing Prime Minister Irman Khan," the foreign minister said.

He accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of harming democracy despite presenting itself as the "champion of democracy". "Bilawal is still a child and does not understand a lot of things," he said.

Read Pakistan, Canada in unison against Islamophobia

Qureshi added that prime minister was meeting everyone including his allies.

Regarding the United Nation's declaring March 15 as the International Day Against Islamophobia, the foreign minister said that it was a feat achieved due to PM Imran's efforts.

Qureshi thanked the premier for acknowledging ambassador Munir Akram and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts in this regard.

'Horse-trading'

A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan lashed out at the opposition parties, saying their leaders were sitting in Islamabad’s Sindh House with “bags full of money” to “buy the loyalties of government lawmakers” and urged the people to reach Islamabad’s D-Chowk on March 27 – a day ahead of the no-confidence motion – to show that they stand with the “truth” and against the “slaves of America”.

The premier made these remarks while addressing a public gathering in Saidu Sharif, Swat.

Earlier this week, the PTI had announced that it would hold a “massive power show” at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on March 27 and pull out one million people to the streets to “express confidence in their leader [PM Imran]”. The ruling party is expected to give a plan of action on opposition's no-confidence motion, which it believes would fail.