Islamabad: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key ally of the ruling party, formally announced support for the opposition’s no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The dramatic announcement came in a joint press conference of opposition leaders after MQM-P leaders struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and signed the agreement in front of the journalists on March 30 evening.
Announcing his party’s decision, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said: “We have gathered at a historic moment,” expressing hopes that the united opposition can “strive for a democracy that can benefit common people.” Siddiqui clarified that MQM-P has not entered into a working relationship with PPP for “personal or political benefit but for the public interest.”
Opposition demands PM’s resignation
The opposition leaders demanded the resignation of PM Khan saying he has lost majority support in the parliament. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari thanked MQM-P for joining hands with the opposition. He asked the prime minister to resign and suggested the no-trust vote should be held tomorrow following which he expressed hope that the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif will be elected the new prime minister.
Speaking at a press conference, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif said, “Today is an important day in Pakistan’s history because a joint opposition … has come together for national unity.”
The head of opposition alliance Pakistan Dem¬ocratic Movement (PDM) and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Nawabzada Khalid Magsi also joined the press conference.
MQM leaders Syed Aminul Haque and Farogh Naseem resigned from their ministries ahead of the agreement.
No-confidence vote
On March 28, opposition parties tabled the no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan at the National Assembly session which was adjourned till March 31. On the same day, the government’s coalition party Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), which has four votes, announced support for PM Imran Khan in the no-trust vote while four members of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) extended support to the opposition. Without the seven votes of the MQM-P, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would fall short of the 172 needed to retain power and survive the no-trust move.
PM Imran Khan won’t resign: ministers
As the government’s key coalition party struck a deal with the opposition, Pakistan’s ministers for interior and information rejected the rumours that PM Khan is resigning. The prime minister Imran would not step down and would “fight until the last ball of the last over” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said.
