LAHORE: Opposition troika, despite taking their efforts to introduce a no-confidence motion against the PM Imran Khan-led government to an extensive scale, the joint Opposition remained unsuccessful in finalizing its strategy for the motion in their latest meeting.
Meeting of three top political leaders remained inconclusive as they have yet to decide against whom they would bring the no-confidence move first: the prime minister or Punjab Chief Minister.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman held discussions to fine-tune the anti-PTI strategy, after a luncheon hosted by the PML-N leader.
It was learnt that during the trio’s meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rahman expressed his dissatisfaction over the delay in the announcement of a no-confidence motion and asked both leaders to reach a final conclusion within the next two days.
Reports said the PML-N wanted to bring the no-confidence motion directly against Prime Minister Imran Khan while the PPP wanted to bring the no-trust move against the National Assembly speaker and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.
PPP leader revealed that the members of Jahangir Tareen group, who were secretly supporting the united opposition, were also of the view that as the first step, the no-confidence motion should be brought against the speaker because as per the Constitution, it will be held through a secret ballot.
The second difference in the united opposition was who would become the head of the government if the no-confidence movement was successful, as anyone, who will take charge, will have to implement the IMF’s agenda and face the wrath of the public.
Reports said that Shehbaz Sharif wanted someone from within the PPP as the prime minister while the PPP wanted Shehbaz Sharif to be the next prime minister, a proposal which he was reluctant to accept. They claimed that former president Asif Ali Zardari nominated Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister while Shehbaz named PPP’s Khursheed Shah for the slot.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman had led a delegation comprising Akram Durrani, Maulana Asadur Rehman and Maulana Amjad on the meeting while the PPP’s delegation included PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, parliamentary leader Syed Hassan Murtaza and others.
Before the arrival of Asif Ali Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Shehbaz Sharif met in person and Shehbaz Sharif took the PDM chief into confidence over his recent discussion with Zardari on joining his party in the long march. The two leaders discussed various issues against the government, including the no-confidence motion.
As reported earlier, the Opposition parties’ coalition favours immediate elections but the ruling PTI’s allies are not in its favour. However, since the coalition seeks support of government’s allies for bringing a no-trust motion against the government, Zardari was said to have persuaded the Opposition parties’ leaders to show flexibility on the matter of elections.
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