Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself can take the vote of confidence from the National Assembly, it is not necessary to take it on someone’s request.
The minister was confident that even if the prime minister is asked to take a vote of confidence, the party will be able to show full numbers.
The defense minister’s comment comes in the backdrop of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s demand, who last week said that Prime Minister Shehbaz would have to take a vote of confidence. Khan’s demand came after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) threatened to quit the coalition government at the Center – whose votes are crucial to keeping the current prime minister in office.
Talking to the media on Monday, he said in response to a question that the Center is not in any danger from the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. The minister expressed similar views while talking to Shazeeb Khanzada in his program Current Affairs aired late on Monday night. He asserted that the Muslim League-N has not been harmed and will not surround it.
However, he said that if former Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz had been present at the time of the vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly, the situation would have been different.
In response to a question about Tehreek-e-Insaf’s return to the lower house, Khawaja Asif said that the party returned to the assembly in 2014 with disgrace as well. He added that if he returns to the Assembly, it is his right to speak on the floor of the House.
He said that the supremo of Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif is waiting for the party to provide him with legal protection to return home. He said that all preparations for his repatriation are complete, adding that he will return to the country as soon as the lawyers confirm that the legal preparations are complete.
Asif said that what happened to Nawaz Sharif was a tragedy because he was punished for not taking salary from his son. In contrast, he said that Imran Khan’s hands are stained with Tosha Khana cases and countless cases are pending against him. He asserted that Imran Khan has a long list of crimes.
He said that Muslim League (N) along with all its allies will finalize the name for caretaker chief minister of Punjab today.
New political scenario signals Imran’s return to NA
In response to a question about the emerging political scenario, he said, “Let the PTI come to the National Assembly first, after they come, we will see what happens.”
Following Imran’s hint about returning to Parliament, Home Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Monday that the coalition government would “welcome” PTI lawmakers to the National Assembly if they decide to return, but he made it clear that discussions on the interim setup would not be done before then. The government’s mandatory term ends in August.
While giving an interview to a private TV channel, Sanaullah said that of course we will welcome him in the assembly because when he was leaving, we said that this is an undemocratic decision.
Sanaullah said PTI MNAs will have to withdraw their resignations to return to the National Assembly. Apart from this, Imran will also have to submit an application to the Speaker to become the opposition leader.
He reiterated that the general elections will be held after the completion of the five-year term of the Parliament. When the term of the assemblies ends on August 16, 2023, he (Imran) will be part of the consultation as the leader of the opposition and then the caretaker will be decided.
