Outcome of no-trust motion by March 31, says Rashid

Minister says he stands with PM whether he remains in power or not

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday termed the next 72 hours crucial for the country’s politics, saying that the outcome of the no-confidence motion filed by the opposition parties against Prime Minister Imran Khan would be by March 30-31.

Addressing a news conference, the minister said the game would start from tomorrow and everything would be crystal clear in the next 72 hours. “PM Imran Khan will play till last ball.”

He reiterated that he stood firmly with Imran Khan whether he (PM) remained in power or not. “The PTI’s mammoth public gathering has opened the eyes of the masses and politics of Imran is not going to end,” he added.

He said Imran had proved his popularity among the masses through the mammoth gathering.

Read More: Showdown on no-confidence motion begins

The minister lauded the PM for announcing Nullah Leh project for Rawalpindi city, he added.

He said the opposition had to bring 172 members for the no-confidence motion against the prime minister on the day of voting.

Regarding the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rally, he said the PML-N had failed to attract the crowd despite passing from various cities.

“A No Objection Certification (NOC) has already been issued to the PML-N for holding a rally on Monday,” he added.

He said full security would be provided to the PML-N rally like given to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) public gatherings. The JUI-F had no NOC for today’s rally and show-cause notices had already been served for violation, he added.

He said the PML-N leadership was coming to address the gathering of “Maulanas” and they would be guest actors. As per the directions of the apex court, no one would be allowed to a stage-sit in the federal capital, he added.

To a question, he said only bold and courageous leadership of economically weak country could devise an independent foreign policy.

Regretting horse-trading, he said the people should boycott those elected representatives who were selling their conscience.

He said their act would be detrimental to the politics and democracy, adding that there was an open market for selling and buying of members and former president Asif Ali Zardari was involved in the business.

 (With input from app)