Bilawal dares PM to impose governor’s rule in Sindh

PPP chairman warns of severe repercussions in the event of any unconstitutional ste

ISLAMABAD:

In swift riposte to Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid’s provocative suggestion, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has dared the federal government to impose governor’s rule in Sindh and warned of severe repercussions.

In a tweet on Friday, the PPP chief said, “If you have the guts, then impose governor's rule, Imran Khan! Don't delay it, impose it today,” adding that, “InshAllah, all of us will come to Islamabad and respond.”

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail said he will not hesitate for even a second if PM Imran directed him to impose governor's rule in the province.

Speaking at a ceremony in Karachi, he said future generations will remember what is happening in the country today. "I have a meeting with the prime minister tomorrow. We will give them (opposition) a surprise that everyone will remember.”

The governor maintained that the assembly members whose "conscience has awakened" should take their decision as per law, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take notice of the situation.

Read more: PM has no authority to impose emergency, governor rule after 'losing majority': Fazl

Dissident lawmakers bagged votes in Imran Khan's name. ECP should take action against them instead of stopping the prime minister from going to Swat," he remarked.

Taking to Twitter, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said if anyone tried to harm any PTI parliamentarian in Sindh or attack their houses, we will directly hold Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal and Murad Ali Shah responsible for any harm or damage caused. "Federal Govt has shown patience. Don’t act like rowdy children. Behave yourself," he further wrote.

On Thursday, the nation’s security czar Sheikh Rashid advised PM Imran to impose governor’s rule in the province of Sindh after the open show of dissent by PTI lawmakers, hiding on the pretext of seeking refuge in Islamabad’s Sindh House ahead of the no-trust vote.

The ongoing power struggle turned ugly for the premier even before the no-confidence vote as around two dozen disgruntled MNAs of the ruling PTI came out in the open in a bid to show support for the opposition.

Taking refuge at the Sindh House in the federal capital, several of them gave interviews to different anchorpersons, saying they had parted ways with the ruling party and would not contest the next elections on a PTI ticket.

The interviews of the turncoats and TV footage showing them present at Sindh House came at a time when the opposition parties, including the ruling party in Sindh, have been attempting to oust the PTI government through a no-trust motion.

Before the situation unfolded, PPP leaders said the government was planning to attack Sindh House on the grounds that the opposition had detained some ruling party lawmakers there ahead of the no-trust vote.

Prior to that, PML-Q leader and Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi said in an interview that around 10 to 12 government lawmakers were in “safe custody” of the opposition.