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Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), an ally of PTI-led ruling coalition, has decided to support joint opposition’s no-trust motion filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan in National Assembly.
This was announced by opposition bigwigs — Shehbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asif Ali Zardari — at a joint press conference in Islamabad, where BAP party’s four MNAs were also present on Monday.
“We thank them [BAP lawmakers] from the bottom of our heart for supporting opposition… we value their decision and assure them of our full support,” said PML-N President Shehbaz.
He added that the government which will be formed after the “success of no-confidence motion” will address the grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP co-chairman Zardari said that Shahbaz Sharif “will soon become the prime minister” of the country. He further said that BAP has taken a decision in the “best interest” of Pakistan.
Four out of the five MNAs of BAP party have decided to support the opposition against the government, said Shehbaz.
While responding to a question, Shehbaz urged PM Imran to prove his claim that foreign elements were conspiring to topple his government.
“I challenge [Imran Khan] to show the letter to entire nation and parliament… if he proves his claim that foreign power are working against national interest then I will stand by him,” he remarked.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that there is still space for dialogue with the PML-Q after it announced supporting the government on the no-trust motion in the lower house of the parliament.
“Previously, PML-Q had 7 and BAP had 5 members in assembly… but now BAP has more lawmakers than PML-Q,” he added without elaborating further.
The development comes as the embattled prime minister, Imran Khan has succeeded in wooing his estranged ally PML-Q to support him on the matter of no-confidence motion tabled against him by the joint opposition in the National Assembly on Monday.
Read more: Govt, PML-Q ‘seal the deal’ as Buzdar quits Punjab CM slot for Pervaiz Elahi
Elahi along with a dozen senior party leaders met with the prime minister at his residence in Bani Gala – after the Nation Assembly accepted a no-trust motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan – for the final round of talks choosing a side.
Earlier in the day, the much-anticipated session of the lower house of parliament to deliberate on the no-confidence motion was adjourned till March 31 after opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif tabled the motion followed by the counting procedure to determine the number of lawmakers in favour.
More than 155 lawmakers were in favour of tabling the motion against the premier.
The opposition, which has 162 members, filed the con-confidence motion on March 8. The motion, moved by 152 opposition members, said that Prime Minister Imran had lost the confidence of the house. The ruling coalition currently has the support of 179 members of the National Assembly.