By Karuna Thapa
Kathmandu, March 31
Imran Khan has ‘lost his majority’ in the National Assembly, according to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He further said that Prime Minister Khan would be replaced shortly by Opposition Leader
Shahbaz Sharif Ansari.
Bhutto has requested that the requisite number of Pakistani legislators vote on a no-confidence resolution against him within the next several days and that if he does not receive a majority, he resigns.
”I congratulate the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) for its courageous decision to join hands with the opposition and vote against Imran Khan in the no-confidence motion,” Bhutto said at a news conference as she prepared to present a no-confidence resolution against the government. He stated that a resolution of no confidence should be filed in parliament and that a vote should be held on Thursday.
Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto, remarked, ”Imran Khan’s majority has now been reduced. He is no longer the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Tomorrow is a Parliamentary session. Let’s vote tomorrow and have this issue resolved. Then we can focus on holding honest elections and begin the process of restoring democracy and addressing the economic crisis.”
He also stated that Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will be appointed as the country’s next Prime Minister soon. ”The no-confidence motion has nothing to do with the PPP or the MQM-P. For the development of Karachi and Pakistan, both sides must work together. ”Shahbaz Sharif has demanded the resignation of Pakistan’s Prime Minister,” PPP chairman Bhutta stated. He (Imran Khan) doesn’t have an option. He has the option of resigning or being fired for disloyalty.
The proceedings were postponed till March 31 after the governing PTI was backed by the
government’s partner, the MQM, in a no-confidence resolution against Imran Khan that received 161 votes in the National Assembly.
Some of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s friends have left the ruling coalition ahead of a no-confidence vote, but Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has stated that he would not quit.
In Urdu, Fawad Chaudhary tweeted, ”Prime Minister Imran Khan is a fighter who will go all the way to the finish line. He is not going to resign.” The no-confidence resolution is expected to be placed to a vote on April 3, according to a Pakistani parliamentary source.
