Lahore: Pakistan’s opposition parties intensified their protest against Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that only by resigning can he get an “honorable farewell”. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said he would not resign and “play till the last ball” despite losing his majority in the National Assembly. At the same time, he had said that he would face the vote on the no-confidence motion to be held on Sunday, which will decide in which direction the country will go. Pakistan Peoples Party President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that there is no safe path left for Imran Khan.
“Only by resigning can he get an honorable farewell,” he said. I would advise them to do so.” He said Imran’s attempt to polarize and defame national security forums and institutions is outrageous. Maryam Nawaz, vice-president of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), on Thursday reacted to Imran Khan’s live telecast address to the nation, tweeting: Doesn’t deserve the highest rank. Instead of crying in front of everyone, he should muster up some courage and if he has any respect left then he should resign.”
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He lost a majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, following a split in Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Two of his allies also withdrew their support and joined the opposition camp. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif moved a no-confidence motion under Article A-95 of the Pakistani Constitution on March 28 and it has been signed by 161 members.
Imran needs 172 votes in the 342-member lower house to thwart the opposition’s attempts to topple his government. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, however, has claimed that the opposition has the support of 175 MPs and the prime minister should resign. Significantly, no Pakistani Prime Minister has completed his full term of five years. Also, no prime minister in Pakistan’s history has been ousted from power through a no-confidence motion and Khan is the third prime minister to face this challenge. (agency)