Rana Sanaulla holds Moonis Elahi responsible for PML-Q's decision

PML-N leader says opposition's numbers to oust PM Imran are complete; might not even need dissenting MNAs' support

Referring to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)'s decision to 'support' the incumbent government in the no-confidence motion, PML-Nawaz stalwart Rana Sanaullah claimed on Tuesday that this was the "first such incident in the political career of Chaudhrys that happened due to Moonis Elahi; the PML-Q has never otherwise taken such decisions".

Talking to reporters, Sanaullah said Moonis Elahi was part of the last meeting. “We asked Moonis Elahi to let go of the demand of chief ministership, but he said the PML-Q will remain ‘silent unless it is given the CMship’ [of Punjab].”

He further said that the joint opposition tabled a no-confidence motion against Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar – who tendered his resignation a day earlier – at the PML-Q's request.

The PML-N leader said the last two meetings will be important after which the Q-League would vote for the opposition over the no-trust vote against PM Imran Khan.

PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari will call on Pervaiz Elahi today to change his mind, he added.

The PML-Q has 10 votes while the PML-N has 165 votes, said Sanaullah, adding that Pervaiz Elahi could not be nominated for the post of the CM. He said the PML-N took every step after due consultation.

Read MQM-P ‘agrees’ to back JUI-F on no-trust motion

Speaking about the politics in Punjab, Sanaullah said the group led by Jahangir Khan Tareen has 10-12 votes. Similarly, a new faction that is unhappy with the resignation of Buzdar has emerged. The PML-N leadership will decide about the future strategy, he added.

PTI has six days

Speaking about the PTI government, he said the incumbent government had six days left in power. He added that the dissident lawmakers were unhappy with the PTI for more than two years and the impression that they were bought off was wrong.

“Our numbers are complete without the dissenting lawmakers,” he said, adding that Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir – who has been in jail for over a year – will also "be allowed to cast vote”.

The PML-N leader said the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) also supported the joint opposition and three lawmakers from PML-Q also stood with the opposition parties. “Probably, we will not even need the dissenting MNAs of the ruling party,” he said, adding that five of the dissenting MNAs were elected independently.

Speaking about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Sanaullah said political dialogue was underway with the party. “Political parties are free to decide,” he said, adding that there was no “non-political interference” at this point.

The PML-N leader further observed that some dissenting lawmakers said that they would support the opposition if it needed a couple of votes. He said the brother of PTI's senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi has joined the JUI-F.

“The only respectable option left for the government is to resign,” he added.