The government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan has lost its majority after the main coalition party withdrew its support for Pakistan’s ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
The announcement by the Coalition Party is a major setback for Imran Khan as it has been announced that the debate on the no-confidence motion against him will begin in Parliament on Thursday (March 31). The chances of Ava retaining power have also faded.
Opposition parties have stated they will not run in the by-elections, blaming the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan for the rise in inflation and rising prices in the country. Opposition leader and PML-N leader Shebaz Sharif filed a no-confidence motion in the lower house of parliament last Monday. The debate on the issue is set to begin on Thursday. It was also announced that a referendum would be held on the 3rd.
Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party has 155 members in the 342 – member lower house. He was backed by 23 members of the coalition parties. Imran Khan needs the support of 172 members to defeat the no-confidence motion. But as the coalition parties did not promise to support him, 20 of his own party’s MPs raised the banner against Imran. Thus, the problem of Imran Khan continuing as Prime Minister persisted.
Withdrawal of support: In this context, the main coalition party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-B), announced on Wednesday that it would withdraw its support for Imran Khan. “We want to create a new beginning for tolerance and true democratic politics,” Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the party’s leader with 7 MPs, told reporters during a meeting with opposition leaders. Therefore, we will support the opposition in parliament.
Opposition leader Shebaz Sharif said, “This is an important day for all the opposition parties to work together to find solutions to the problems facing Pakistan. The prime minister must resign to create a new tradition. ‘
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Chatterjee said the support of the MQM party was crucial. Thus the Prime Minister lost the majority. He has no choice but to resign. Opposition leader Shebaz Sharif will be sworn in as the new Prime Minister soon.
The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a member of the ruling coalition, has also turned against Imran Khan. The party has said it has decided to accept the call of the opposition and vote against Imran Khan. This party has 5 MPs.
Two ministries resign: Earlier, MQMP ministers Farooq Naseem and Aminul Haque submitted their resignation letters to the Prime Minister.
‘I will not resign’
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will not resign after the two coalition parties announced their withdrawal of support.
He was speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Asked if Imran Khan would resign, he said the Prime Minister would not resign. He said he would fight until the last ball.
Opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif (2nd from right) met reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday with a letter of support from MQM-B MPs.