Interior minister’s statement: PTI leader urges PM to seek vote of confidence

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) interim Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should seek a vote of confidence following a recent statement of the interior minister and severe criticism from a coalition partner.

Talking to reporters at Dahgal Checkpost near Adiala jail, he referred to the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s statement, in which he said the existing governance system has collapsed, coupled with a government’s ally declaring that the PM is a product of rigged elections, and said that these revelations raised serious questions.

Barrister Gohar said that in such circumstances, formation of a national government is mandatory and moving towards fresh general elections is the need of the hour. “Pack up this system; the way this system is functioning, you have lost public confidence. Form a national government,” he said.

“The formation of a national government is mandatory, as the present government has lost public trust,” he said, adding that in a democratic system in such a situation, the PM should seek a vote of confidence.

PTI chairman said that the PM should immediately summon a National Assembly session to take a vote of confidence. When an ally accuses the government of being the result of rigging, it creates a serious constitutional and political crisis. “This is the end of the story,” he said.

To a question about moving a no-confidence motion, he explained that there is a proper procedure for moving a no-confidence motion. To another question, he said PTI has not contacted the PPP and JUI-F.

He said that no party leader in the country’s history like Imran Khan had remained in jail for three consecutive years. The movement for the release of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan will be started on August 5, he said.

Tuesday is designated a visitation day for Khan’s family members and his legal team. Like the previous weeks, Khan’s sisters, including Aleema Khan, Dr Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan, party leaders including Batteries Gohar Khan and others, as well as workers, gathered near Adiala jail, but neither family members nor members of the legal team were allowed to meet Khan.

Khan family members, leaders and workers staged a sit-in at Factory Naka near Adiala Jail after they were stopped from moving forward to Adiala Jail.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026