Pakistan PM faces losing no-confidence vote as key ally switches sides

Islamabad, Mar 30 (EFE).- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan faces losing the vote of no-confidence in parliament on Apr.3 as a key ally in his government announced switching sides to join the opposition on Wednesday.

Two federal ministers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) resigned from the cabinet after their party struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

“Yes we have resigned from the federal cabinet,” Amin ul-Haque, who stepped down as Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, told EFE.

Haque said his party, which reached an agreement with PPP overnight, would formally announce allegiance with the opposition parties later during the day.

“MQM Rabita Committee (decision making body) has ratified the agreement in today’s meeting,” Nasreen Jalil of the MQM-P told media.

No prime minister in the country’s history has ever completed his or her term. If ousted, Khan would be first ever head of government to be removed from office through a no-trust vote.

Addressing a rally in the capital city of Islamabad on Sunday, Khan blamed “international forces” for trying to oust him from power over his “independent foreign policy.”

He also waved a “threatening letter” to his supporters claiming it was proof of foreign interference and that international forces were sponsoring the efforts to topple his government.

“Obviously, the major power Khan is referring to is the US,” political analyst Talat Masood told EFE.

“The US doesn’t like Khan’s government for refusing to give them air bases to operate in Afghanistan and for getting closer to the Russian and Chinese bloc,” Masood underlined.

A spokesperson for the US embassy in Islamabad did not respond to EFE’s request for comment on the subject.

On Wednesday, Khan chaired an emergency meeting of his cabinet in which MQM-P did not take part. Government spokesperson Fawad Chadhry said the cricketer-turned politician was not planning to resign.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan is the player who fights till the last ball, no resignation will come out,” Chaudhry tweeted.

Around a dozen lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have also parted ways, while accusing Khan of not delivering on his electoral promises.

Opposition parties need 172 votes in the 342-member house to oust Khan from power.

The joint opposition has a combined 163 seats in the National Assembly, which has been bolstered by seven more seats of the MQM-P, and five of the Balochistan National Party, another Khan ally that turned against him. EFE

aa/sc