PTI lawmakers receiving ‘threatening calls’: Fawad

Says five MPAs from Muzaffargarh offered bribe of Rs1.2b to switch loyalties

LAHORE:

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday alleged that the party's lawmakers in Punjab had been receiving threatening calls from unknown numbers to switch their loyalties and urged Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir to launch an inquiry into the matter.

Addressing a news conference in Lahore, the PTI leader maintained that the new army chief was apolitical and that the institutions were not supporting any particular party in the country.

“PTI does not believe in confrontation with the institutions and wants to have cordial working relations with the establishment,” he noted.

Fawad said five MPAs of the PTI from Muzaffargarh were offered a bribe of Rs1.2 billion and received calls from unknown numbers to change their loyalties. “But they (PTI MPAs) are standing steadfast with the party despite threats and offer of huge money.”

He asked the COAS to hold an independent inquiry into the matter.

He also spoke about the importance of the army chief maintaining neutrality regarding the vote of confidence for Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

Earlier, PTI Chairman Imran Khan had alleged that the military establishment had not been neutral in the matter.

The PTI chief had claimed that certain individuals were being coerced to vote against Elahi, with some MPAs allegedly being approached by representatives from the establishment.

Terming Imran as an asset for Pakistan, Fawad rejected suggestions that the "minus Imran" formula would be beneficial for the country’s politics.

He warned that ending Imran’s role in politics would be tantamount to imposing martial law.

Criticising the ECP, he said the polls supervisory body was “ready for everything except holding elections”.

The PTI leader reiterated that his party had sufficient numbers in the Punjab Assembly to make CM Elahi's vote of confidence successful. "We will complete the process soon as we have the support of 188 lawmakers," he said.