LAHORE: The main opposition leadership on Wednesday held quite a many huddles then to give a final shape to its important-hyped no- confidence move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The top PPP leadership of Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on PML-N chairman Shehbaz Sharif at his Model Town hearthstone where his elder family and former premier Nawaz Sharif joined from London via videotape link.
The Maulana, who’s also the head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), also held a separate meeting with Shehbaz before the appearance of the PPP leaders in which they bandied the figures game at length.
“ The bringing of a no- confidence stir against Imran Khan coming month; tallying the number of MNAs of the three parties — PML-N, PPP and JUI-F — (and those who were) approached independently to take them onboard in the move and who can be the high minister in case the stir succeeds, were bandied in this important meeting,” a party of the first huddle told Dawn.
PPP, JUI-F leaders call on Shehbaz; Maulana visits Chaudhrys of PML-Q again
“ Talking about the coming premier, one of the leaders (Mr Zardari) suggested the name of Shehbaz at which the ultimate chortled.”
PPP president Bilawal has formerly offered the Sharifs the high minister’s niche (in case the opposition’s move is successful). PML-N clerk general Ahsan Iqbal had told Dawn that it wasn’t an issue for his party as the contestant’s ouster would come a “ ground for fresh pates”.
The source further said Mr Zardari had been entrusted with finalising matters with the government abettors — PML-Q, MQM and BAP — and making sure the coalition mates part ways with Mr Khan.
Regarding the figures game, the source said, the three opposition parties changed notes about the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians they had communicated and sought support for their move against the premier. “ The PML-N presented the names of 16, PPP six and JUI-F two PTI MNAs that these parties believe have been won over and are ready to gutter the kaptaan (Imran Khan). Since the PTI coalition is hanging on a thin maturity, this number is further than enough to oust it,” he said, adding the opposition was confident that indeed if they failed to achieve a advance with the government’s coalition mates they had the needed figures to oust the high minister.
“ The PTI parliamentarians also include those backing Jehangir Tareen,” he said and added “ every PTI legislator on board” had been given assurances collectively by the opposition party dealing with them.
After the meeting of the opposition troika, PML-N information clerk Marriyum Aurangzeb told journalists that the “ named” high minister had 20 days left in office. “ The figures game has been completed and the no- confidence stir will succeed,” she declared.
Ahsan Iqbal told Dawn on Wednesday that the opposition parties were moving ahead at a “ satisfactory pace” to achieve their target of transferring PM Khan home through a no- trust move. The parties had changed notes regarding their connections with ruling party lawgivers and abettors.
“ We’re veritably important positive that the abettors will part ways with the government ahead of our move,” Mr Iqbal stated.
The PML-N statement said a common commission of the opposition parties had been formed to decide the “ date to move the no- confidence stir besides determining the political and legal strategy”.
The meeting also framed a charge- distance against the PTI government for making people’s lives miserable through unknown price hike, affectation, severance, damaging public concinnity and gagging dissent.
“ The opposition leaders analysed the overall situation in the country and agreed that the entire country is in agreement about getting relieve of the peremptory government as soon as possible.”
Mission woo Chaudhrys
After the opposition triad’s huddle, Maulana Fazl paid a follow-up visit to the PML-Q leadership – Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi – at their Gulberg hearthstone. He told them about the opposition’s plans and sought their support – the PML-Q has five MNAs.
After the meeting, the PML-Q said in a statement that the political situation in the country and issues of collective interest were bandied.
Meanwhile, former chairman Zardari hosted a regale in the honour of Parvez Elahi, PML-Q civil ministers Moonis Elahi and Tariq Bashir Cheema, MNAs Salik Husain and Hussain Elahi, and Rasiq Elahi and Shafay Hussain at Bilawal House in a shot to move them that supporting the opposition’s cause would also help them politically, as the PTI campaigners and those supporting Imran Khan would face the wrath of the millions in the coming choices.
According to a common statement, the PPP and PML-Q agreed to take opinions in discussion with each other. “ The leadership of PML and PPP expressed full confidence in each other. The political situation in the country and other issues of collective interest were bandied in detail during the meeting.”
So far, the Chaudhrys have reportedly sought time for farther deliberation on the opposition’s offer. Shehbaz Sharif lately met the Chaudhrys after 14 times and reportedly offered to shake hands with them in the unborn scheme of effects.
On Tuesday, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi made it clear that in the political process, connections were developed with everyone. “ Keeping in view our political character, we will make opinions in the interest of Pakistan,” he stated. The PML-Q lawgivers have authorised Mr Elahi to make all unborn opinions (about the opposition’s offers to join it).
On the other hand, Mr Zardari is listed to meet Jamaat-i-Islami principal Assemblyman Sirajul Haq on Thursday ( moment) at Mansoora to seek his party’s sole vote in the National Assembly for the opposition’s move. JI prophet Qaisar Sharif told Dawn that his party leadership would make a decision whether to support the opposition after consulting its Majlis-i-Shura.
