Vote of confidence today: PM dares ‘16’ PTI lawmakers to go against him openly

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday that he would come to power with majority even if he failed to secure fresh vote of confidence today (Saturday) from National Assembly.

The prime minister said this while chairing a parliamentary party meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) which was convened to take his party parliamentarians and his allied partners into confidence for today’s vote of confidence in the wake of Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh’s defeat in the Senate elections. The prime minister said that he was not worried about losing the general seat from Islamabad. The lawmakers belonging to both PTI and allied parties expressed full confidence in him, saying they stand behind him like ‘rocks’. He further stated that he joined politics with a purpose and firmly believes in democracy and freedom of opinion, adding that no one can “blackmail” him as he has nothing to lose if he is out from the power “unlike the Zardaris of Larkana and the Sharifs of Raiwind”. “I don’t care if my government is over tomorrow, as I’m here after 25 years struggle with a purpose to bring a change and to track down the corrupts. And there will be no compromise on the ideology through which people voted us into power,” he declared.

He continued that his fight against the “Sicilian mafias” of the country will continue as long as he is there, adding the sole purpose of PTI’s manifesto is to eliminate use of money in the politics and put the corrupt lots behind the bars.

PM Khan said those who are with him would also remain with him today (Saturday) and those who have lost faith in him can openly express their feeling and walk away from his party.

“I’ll respect the people who openly disagree with my policies and manifesto, and the reason I’m seeking vote of confidence is to give an opportunity to those who don’t like me and my policies should openly come against me,” he maintained.

He said that the people who have reached the parliament through the votes of people are the custodians of their votes, but the “16 elected members of the party (PTI) who sold their votes in Senate elections must take decisions through their conscious and not by taking money as it would be dishonesty with the trust people have reposed on them”. Muttahia Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation has assured its full support to the prime minister and stated that they would remain part of the alliance in all circumstances.

At the same time, Pakistan Muslim League (Q) also vowed their full support to the prime minister, saying they will always stand behind him as they have full confidence in his leadership. The prime minister while talking to the delegation of PML-Q stated that his government would fulfill all the promises that it had made with their allies.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021