Islamabad. The threat to the Imran Khan government continues to grow with every passing hour, as allies are abandoning them and joining the opposition camp. Pakistan’s powerful army has also withdrawn its support to the Khan-led government. With the opposition parties gaining the requisite strength, the no-confidence motion against Khan is likely to be passed smoothly in the National Assembly. However, Khan is making last efforts to stay in power.
With desperate attempts to stay on as prime minister, Khan is employing all kinds of gimmicks. They have resorted to various tactics, which include threatening opposition parties, inciting their supporters to show power, blaming ‘foreign hands’ for toppling their government, black magic etc.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has 155 senators in the 342-member National Assembly. Till now he has run the government with the help of small parties.
The Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), an ally of the Khan government, on Wednesday decided to join the opposition camp and support the no-confidence motion. With this, the strength of the ruling party in the National Assembly has come down to 164, while the strength of the opposition has gone up to 177. This means that Khan cannot get 172 votes to neutralize the no-confidence motion. “Imran Khan has now lost his majority. He is no longer the prime minister,” Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, chairman of the main opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said.
There were also reports that Khan would resign following the withdrawal of support from the MQM-P, a model set in the democratic world. Other allies like Balochistan National Party-Mengal and Balochistan Awami Party have already left the PTI government. However, Khan has decided to remain hopeful despite the apparent clarity of his departure, instead he held a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday amid the political turmoil in the country. PTI spokesperson Neelam Irshad Sheikh said, “PM Imran Khan is not stepping down. He is an elected prime minister. He will play till his last ball.”
Khan has decided to try his luck till the end of the match. This became clear when he issued instructions to senators to abstain from voting on a no-confidence motion. He also warned of punishment for defection for failing to follow his instructions.
Recently, Khan used derogatory words against opposition leaders after planning to bring a no-confidence motion. He called them corrupt, goons and criminals. Taking a jibe at Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Khan said, “How can a jackal become a leader? Have you ever heard of a leader who can stand on his feet.” Will you run away by pressing your tail in the middle?”
He has also threatened opposition leaders of dire consequences if the no-confidence motion fails.
Opposition leaders have strongly criticized Khan for his threats and his failure to run the country properly.
PML-N leader and Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam tweeted, “Why are you breaking down and looking frenzied Imran Khan? Now the game has started man. And you have already lost it! Show some sportsman spirit! “
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticized Khan for economic mismanagement in Pakistan and accused him of not allowing the no-confidence motion to be moved. Even the PML-N alleged that Khan’s wife Bushra was using black magic to help Bibi Khan save her throne.
Khan had also warned that thousands of his supporters would storm the national capital Islamabad a day before the vote on the no-confidence motion. As part of pressurizing the opposition, the Islamabad Police was used to raid the National Assembly. It arrested more than 10 people, including two senators.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the use of force by Imran Khan could lead to violence in Pakistan, as the government was resorting to tactics of threats and repression.
“Pakistan’s democratic institutions are facing a new threat. The situation could turn into a dangerous confrontation,” the HRW said.
It reminded the Khan government that it was their duty to ensure that there was no violence.
However, Imran Khan is seen going to any extent to stay in power. He blamed a ‘foreign conspiracy’ aimed at toppling his government. He claimed that money for the conspiracy was sent to Pakistan from abroad. Khan wanted to share the details of the conspiracy with his ministers and journalists. He said that he has a letter in which there is evidence that outside forces want to topple his government.
In a public speech, Khan said, “We have known about this conspiracy for months. We also know about the people who have gathered these people (opposition parties). We have been threatened in writing, but We will not compromise on national interest.”
All this gives a clear indication of how desperately Khan is trying to stay in power, although the opposition voices against him in Pakistan are now getting louder.
—AnyTV News
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