Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal Claim Allies Left Coalition Government

ISLAMABAD: The government’s allies have left the coalition, and Prime Minister Imran Khan has lost the confidence of most National Assembly members, which is why he is avoiding voting on the no-confidence resolution, claimed Opposition Leaders.

This was the consensus opinion of Shehbaz Sharif, the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chair of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who held telephonic consultations on Tuesday on the issue of the no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In a day or two, the opposition leaders expect a positive announcement from the government’s allies over the no-confidence motion. Top opposition leaders are expected to meet again soon to complete their strategy.

The two leaders agreed that the PTI government’s stalling tactics, rather than facing a no-confidence motion, were intolerable. Both agreed that Imran Khan’s economic sins against the people would not be forgiven by the opposition parties. They agreed, “Imran Khan and his supporters shall not be permitted to escape without accountability.”

The telephonic conversation was part of daily meetings between opposition leaders about the no-confidence move. According to sources, both have resolved to develop a strategy for the National Assembly’s upcoming session on March 25.

Meanwhile, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), declared on Tuesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been utterly isolated and that his administration in Islamabad no longer had the support of its coalition partners. He was certain that the ruling party’s key ally in the Centre, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP), will proclaim support for the opposition in two or three days following his meeting with MQMP officials.

“The opposition is in communication with all supporters of the PTI administration, and the success of the no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan is certain,” Fazl stated after meeting with MQMP convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at the latter’s headquarters.

The Maulana, who is also the chair of the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl, said he was returning from the MQMP headquarters happy with the PDM and MQMP’s positions in the current political situation.

“The MQMP could make a final announcement and formally support the opposition in two or three days.”

He said that all the major opposition parties had agreed with the MQMP and urged it to join the opposition coalition fighting the present government.

On the occasion, Siddiqui stated the MQMP expected the government to at least provide it with some reasons to remain in the ruling coalition.

“What is the use of democracy and government if the prime minister has no jurisdiction over various issues?” he said, adding that the MQMP respects Maulana Fazlur Rehman and values his opinion and counsel.”

However, unlike other political parties, the MQMP operates under ‘exceptional conditions.” He stated that the opposition parties were lucky not to be confronted with such issues.

“Opposition parties are free to pursue their political goals; their offices are open, and their employees are not absent,” Siddiqui remarked. “However, despite being in government, we are severely restricted and may not do politics freely; our offices remain locked, and over 100 employees have gone missing,” he stated. In the past few years, the MQMP has been pushed against the wall and left with no political room, according to Siddiqui, and as a result, it must carefully consider every choice.

According to sources in both parties familiar with the developments, Fazl and other opposition leaders will guarantee a settlement between the MQMP and the Pakistan People’s Party-led Sindh government to pave the way for the MQMP’s support, which the party made conditional on its joining the alliance. The MQMP is a key ally of the ruling PTI, with seven votes in the National Assembly.