ISLAMABAD: After throwing what many believe is an “ominous bouncer” at the opposition by taking a key ally – the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) – into his expanding political fold, Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday made it clear to his party lawmakers – both dissidents and loyalists – not to bother coming to the National Assembly on the day of the decisive voting on the no-confidence motion.
In special missives sent to the MNAs ahead of the voting on the no-confidence motion, the prime minister categorically said that no member of the PTI is allowed to come to the parliament, as under the rules, it is the opposition which is supposed to show the 172 members in a 342-member lower house of the parliament to oust a prime minister.
The decision to write letters to the PTI MNAs was taken at a meeting of the party’s political committee chaired by the prime minister, which was also attended by his emissaries who have been holding secretive huddles with coalition partners.
The meeting was also briefed about the secret rendezvous with the allied political parties particularly, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which is eying the top slot of governorship in Sindh as well as the Port and Shipping Ministry.
PM Imran directs PTI lawmakers to abstain from voting on no-confidence motion
Needless to mention it was no other than MQM’s blue-eyed Ishratul Ibad Khan who held the coveted slot of governor Sindh for almost 14 years. The sources said that prime minister has agreed to bestow the MQM-P with the Maritime Affairs Ministry as well as the governorship of Sindh province.
They said that the party is expected to make formal announcement to throw its weight behind the government to defeat the no-confidence motion against the prime minister any time soon.
Meanwhile, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the newly-announced candidate of the PTI for the coveted slot of chief minister Punjab, also called on the prime minister and discussed the ongoing political situation with him. The PML-Q chief also asked the prime minister not to hesitate to trade the Sindh governorship for garnering the much-needed support of the MQM-P.
The prime minister also said that the things have been finalised and finishing touches are being given to map-out the government’s future strategy to brace the looming storm of no-confidence motion stirred by the likes of Zardaris, Sharifs, and the JUI cleric. After joining forces with the prime minister, the younger Chaudhry of Gujrat who has no shred of doubt left in his mind assured the prime minister that the beleaguered opposition’s gimmicks would be dashed to bits in a jiffy.
The sources said that the veteran politician has turned the tables on the troika – Asif Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman – who have now been moving from pillar to post in desperate hunt of electables to vote flamboyant prime minister who has repeatedly stigmatized the troika as the “three stooges” in his seemingly endless mammoth power shows.
At the same time, the government set of trouble shooters comprising the seasoned, Pervez Khattak and the versatile Asad Umar, have assured minced no words to assure the allies – the PML-Q and the MQM-P – their due set of demands has been responded with a positive reciprocation on part of the prime minister and now they should solely preserve their political acumen in foiling the high-handed design of opposition.
Moreover, the prime minister huddled tight with scores of lawmakers belonging to both political friends and foes and assured them in no ambiguous terms that he would come stronger and powerful after all this no-confidence melodrama dies its natural death.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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