The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led coalition government, formally announced its intention to join the opposition ranks ahead of a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday.
With the MQM-P throwing its weight behind the joint opposition, PM Imran will lose his majority in the National Assembly, and if the situation remains unchanged until the vote on the no-trust resolution, which is scheduled for April 3, his demise is all but certain.
MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui made the announcement alongside leaders of the joint opposition at a press conference in Islamabad.
Because the Prime Minister has now lost his majority, we will vote tomorrow: PPP leader Bilawal also thanked the MQM-P and called its decision to join forces with the opposition “historic.”
“I’d like to emphasize that the working relationship between PPP and MQM-P has nothing to do with the no-confidence motion. If we want to work for Karachi and Pakistan’s prosperity, the PPP and MQM-P must work together under any circumstances “He stated.
“Imran Khan’s majority has now been revoked. He is no longer Prime Minister. Tomorrow is the first day of the parliament’s session. Let’s vote tomorrow to settle this issue. We can then begin working on transparent elections, and the journey toward restoring democracy and putting an end to the economic crisis can begin.”
Now that the Prime Minister has lost his majority, let us vote tomorrow: Bilawal, the leader of the PPP, also thanked the MQM-P and called its decision to join forces with the opposition “historic.”
“I’d like to reiterate that the working relationship between PPP and MQM-P has nothing to do with the no-confidence motion. If we want to work for the prosperity of Karachi and Pakistan, the PPP and MQM-P must work together under any circumstances “he stated.
“Imran Khan has now lost his majority. He is no longer prime minister. Tomorrow is the start of the parliament session. Let us vote tomorrow to settle this issue. We can then begin working on transparent elections, and the journey toward restoring democracy and ending the economic crisis can begin.”
The coordination committee of the MQM-P approves the agreement with the opposition.
Earlier in the day, the coordination committee of the MQM-P announced that it had ratified the agreement reached between the party and the opposition on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Nasreen Jalil, leader of the MQM-P, confirmed the development to the media outside the party’s markaz in Karachi’s Bahadurabad.
“Details of the agreement will be revealed at 4 p.m.,” she said. The party is expected to formally announce its break with the government and vote in favour of the no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan at that press conference.
Meanwhile, MQM-P leaders Farogh Naseem and Aminul Haque resigned from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet.
Meeting at a late hour
On Tuesday, the party held a late-night meeting with opposition leaders, which caused quite a stir in the capital and had many anxiously checking their televisions for updates.
An opposition delegation led by Khawaja Asif, Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Ayaz Sadiq, Akhtar Mengal, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and others arrived at Parliament Lodges shortly before midnight.
They held discussions with MQM convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other leaders that lasted until the early hours of Wednesday.
Later, the main opposition leaders — Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Shehbaz Sharif — arrived at the venue around 2:00 a.m. in an attempt to persuade the government ally to change sides.