ISLAMABAD - The ruling PTI and the joint opposition on Thursday failed to find out some workable formula through backdoor channels to resolve the lingering political crisis in some “hounourable way” at a time when Prime Minister Imran Khan has apparently lost the parliamentary majority.
Both the treasury and opposition camps remained adamant to their stance with the former saying that the premier would not accept any so-called “honourable exit” and the latter stressing that only facing-saving left for PM Khan is to resign to pave way for the election of the next chief executive for the country.
The situation emerged after the ruling ally MQM-P nnounced to join opposition ranks. The decision of the Karachi-based party gave a clear edge to the opposition to vote PM Khan out of power as he lost the majority to survive as leader of the house in the National Assembly. This prompted Khan’s opponents asking him to resign as it is the only option left for his “honourable exit” — a demand that was rejected by his allies.
Soon after this, some powerful circles had started efforts to find out some workable formula on which both sides could agree. Some of the options being considered include if the opposition withdraws its no-trust motion submitted in the National Assembly on March 8, PM Khan should resign and dissolve assemblies to pave way for early elections with a suitable interim government.
On Thursday, PM Khan himself publicly rejected all the options to avoid the no-confidence motion against him. He in a live televised address to the nation gave a clear message that he would not resign and the final voting on the no-trust resolution, which will take place on upcoming Sunday, should decide his fate.
“On Sunday, Pakistan’s fate will be decided,” PM Khan said and added, “I will fight to the last and if I win, I will come back stronger.”
Khan, who is the chairman of the ruling party, clearly knows that his removal from his office is certain as the opposition has a clear majority in the National Assembly with 177 numbers, out of 342-member house, to vote him out. Some of his own party’s dissident lawmakers are also expected to vote against him amid growing public anger over rising living costs.
On the other hand, the political committee of the PTI chaired by PM Khan also rejected the offer of any “face-saving or safe exit deal” and reiterated its stance that this would not be acceptable to the ruling camp.
Highly credible sources told The Nation that the committee was briefed about the offer being made to Khan and decided that the premier would fight till the last ball. The participants said that an elected government was being toppled through a foreign conspiracy and PTI would not compromise by accepting any deal without caring for the consequences.
The committee endorsed concerns of the PM on the letter written by the Pakistani ambassador while quoting the remarks of a foreign official and made it clear that after this conspiracy, it has been established that the PTI government was being toppled through foreign interference.
The huddle was briefed that all PTI lawmakers have been formally told that they would not attend the NA session on voting day. The key government functionaries that attended the meeting also empowered the PM to take all possible decisions within the ambit of the law on prevailing situation.
On the other side, the opposition leadership in a huddle attended by opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif rejected the proposal of withdrawing the no-trust motion to give some face-saving to PM Khan, the sources privy to the development in the opposition ranks said.
The meeting discussed the proposal and decided that they would not accept any guarantee as they have lost confidence in Khan. The meeting urged that the only face-saving for the premier is to resign, otherwise pressure should be built up on the speaker NA to conduct voting on the no-trust resolution.
The opposition has named Shehbaz Sharif, brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, to lead the next coalition government if PM Khan is voted out.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while talking to journalists here said that there is no safe or backdoor passage, and some NRO-like deal, or amnesty for PM Khan. “Only Imran Khan’s resignation is the honourable exit for him,” he said, adding that he wanted him to show a sportsman spirit and become the leader of the opposition after resigning.