RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has ruled out moving a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government on Sunday by allying with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Speaking to reporters at Adiala jail, Khan was asked about the no-confidence motion. He noted that there was no difference between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as they were “two sides of the same coin”.
The former prime minister’s remarks come as the PML-N-led coalition government lost its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly due to the Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling declaring the PTI eligible for allotment of reserved seats.
The PPP is a key ally at the center as both the Bilawal Bhutto-led party and the PML-N failed to secure a simple majority in the February 8 polls and later reached a power-sharing deal where the PPP agreed to back the prime minister. The Shehbaz-led government in exchange for several constitutional posts.
However, the alliance has not been smooth to say the least as differences have emerged between them over the 2024-25 budget, administrative issues in Punjab and the latest being the PTI ban.
The PTI, if it aims, could oust the incumbent government by moving a no-confidence vote in the lower house – the same way ex-PM Khan was ousted – if it convinces the PPP to withdraw its support for the PML-N government and instead support its movement in NA.
Reacting to the SC verdict earlier this month, veteran journalists and anchor Hamid Mir said it was possible that the PPP, which has reiterated its objections to the Centre’s policies, could tie up with the PTI and support their vote. motion of no confidence if the PML-N fails to fulfill its promises.
In his speech at the Adiala facility, Khan said that if he wants to come to power, he will talk to the PPP on a no-confidence motion.
Touching upon the federal government’s move to ban PTI, he said the party was already banned and could not contest the elections.
He also emphasized that banning any political party is akin to killing democracy.
The former prime minister’s remarks refer to the federal government’s announcement to ban the PTI for alleged anti-state activities.
In addition, he also criticized Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for criticizing the judiciary over the reserved seats verdict and questioned whether the PML-N leader believed the judges were only right when her party’s cases were dismissed.
Condemning the Bannu incident in which at least one person was killed and around two dozen injured after protesters were fired upon during a protest rally, Khan claimed that everyone knows that innocent people were shot during the incident.
The PTI founder called for a judicial inquiry and stressed that the war on terror cannot be won without the support of the nation.
When asked about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s stance that miscreants fired from inside the peace march in Bannu, he noted that everyone knew who fired at the rally.
He also said that he will ask KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to take a strict stand on the incident.
