Highlights:
- In the lower house of parliament, the PTI government lost its majority.
- Notably, the joint opposition needed the backing of 172 MNAs to pass the no-confidence motion against the prime minister.
- The joint opposition now has 177 members of the national assembly.
- On April 3, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will face a no-trust vote in Parliament.
Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government received a major setback by key ally and the main coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) after it struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
“The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM and PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan,” PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted.
The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 29, 2022
As of now, the Imran Khan government has lost its majority in Pakistan’s lower house of parliament, following late-night developments days ahead of the no-confidence motion or no-trust vote against him.
After the ruling coalition partner MQM-P decided to part ways with Imran Khan party, Pakistan’s joint opposition has now 177 members of the national assembly and Imran Khan-led government is now left with 164 MNAs (Members of National Assembly).
Notably, Pakistan’s joint opposition needed the backing of 172 MNAs in order to pass a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister.
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The Pakistani National Assembly has a total of 342 members, with 172 forming a majority. The PTI-led coalition was formed with the backing of 179 members, but now that the MQM-P has left the party, PTI is only standing with the support of 164 members while the Opposition now has 177 members of supporters in the national assembly and does not require the backing of disgruntled PTI MNAs.
Meanwhile, after Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that foreign funds are being used to topple his government, federal minister Asad Umar said that the PM is prepared to show a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to support his claims.
During his rally, Imran Khan claimed, “Attempts are being made through foreign money to change the government in Pakistan. Our people are being used. Mostly inadvertently, but some people are using money against us. We know from what places attempts are being to pressure us. We have been threatened in writing but we will not compromise on national interest.”
After both parties signed a draft prepared by Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab, the MQM-P decided to back the opposition. According to Pakistan’s Geo TV, who cited sources, the signatories include Shahbaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, and Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party.
“The agreement between the joint Opposition and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan has been finalised,” MQM-P leader Faisal Subzwari tweeted, confirming the claim about the MQM-P aligning with the opposition.
An MQM-P official told in a statement that the party’s Rabta Committee will meet at 2 p.m. today at their Bahadurabad office, where the draft would be submitted for approval.
The vote of no confidence in Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is set for April 3rd.
