PML-N will neither destabilise nor support government: Nisar

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday stated in clear terms that it will neither destabilise nor support the stumbling ruling junta. Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, leader of the opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan rejected the impression to what he said was being created in media that PML-N will support the government not go for its ousting.
He said PML-N has no intention to destabilise the incumbent government as it already has lost its numerical majority in the Parliament after Muttahida parted ways. "We have very clear stance that PML-N will neither destabilise the government nor support it if it loses majority," he said, adding that it was the bad performance of the rulers which showed them this day.
About the possible no confidence move against Prime Minister Gilani, Nisar said all such important issues will be discussed by the PML-N's Central Organising Committee (COC) meeting today (Tuesday) with party chief Mian Nawaz Sharif in the chair. He said that all the decisions will be taken keeping national interests supreme. He added that his party wants that all things must be settled democratically.
Nisar said PML-N has a clear stance and always supported democracy while opposed the incumbent government on steps such as increase in the prices of petroleum products and other anti-people moves. He said Pakistan was in severe crisis. Another PML-N leader Khawaja Asif while separately talking to reporters said though the situation was not clear by now but added that his party will not vote in favour of Prime Minister Gilani in case of no confidence move.
Ahsan Iqbal said it needs 172 votes to dethrone Prime Minister Gilani adding that no confidence move was an 'assumption' unless you have the required numbers. He said the two parties, which left the coalition government, MQM and JUI-F have 25 and 8 members respectively in the National Assembly.
He, however, said that the two parties were still in coalition in Sindh (MQM) and Balochistan (JUI-F) of the PPP-led coalition governments. To a question whether PML-N will support no confidence move against Prime Minister Gilani, Ahsan said PML-N which has 92 members in the National Assembly will not lose any 'positive' opportunity.
Saad Rafiq said PML-N will announce schedule of a countrywide protest movement in two days against the increase in prices of petroleum products and added that the government must withdraw the decision forthwith. Hamza Shahbaz was of the view that the government has completely failed in giving relief to the masses adding that corruption was on the rise and decisions of the Supreme Court were not being implemented. He said the PML-N's COC meeting will take important decisions including the party's stance as the government has lost majority in the National Assembly.