ISLAMABAD: Independent MNA from Balochistan Mohammad Aslam Bhotani Tuesday decided to quit the ruling coalition and side with the Opposition ahead of the vote on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Addressing a press conference alongside Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and others, Aslam Bhotani said he has also joined the opposition alliance for the sake of Zardari. “I am hugely indebted to Zardari and I will go anywhere he will ask me,” he added.
The statement comes in the wake of a deal between the ruling PTI and the Punjab-based party wherein Prime Minister Imran Khan agreed to give the coveted slot of the Punjab chief minister to Pervaiz Elahi in return for the support on the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition.
Pervaiz Elahi can’t become CM Punjab
Asif Zardari on the occasion criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leadership for remaining a part of the ruling coalition and said Chaudhry Pervez Elahi can never become the chief minister of Punjab as he lacks the required votes.
Zardari said the opposition had invited the PML-Q to become part of their movement to ‘save Pakistan’ but due to its shortsightedness, the Punjab-based party went to the other side.
“Pervaiz Elahi can never become the chief minister of Punjab as he doesn’t have the required votes,” he said, adding that the change of heart by the Chaudhrys was perplexing. He said the next chief minister will be from the opposition as it has the required number in the province.
In response to a question, Zardari said he was relieved by the fact that the establishment “was neutral”.
Speaking on the occasion, PPP Chairperson Bilawal said it was the habit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to level false accusations and added the opposition has more than enough numbers to dislodge Imran Khan. He said the PPP wanted to have “long-lasting relations with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)” for the uplift of Karachi.
