In a major setback to Pakistan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by prime minister Imran Khan, a cabinet member belonging to ally Jamoori Watan Party has resigned from his position a day before a no-confidence vote will be tabled in parliament.
Shahzain Bugti, who was working as a special assistant to prime minister (SAPM) on harmony and reconciliation in Balochistan, a rank of cabinet minister, has resigned and joined the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an opposition political front opposing Islamabad’s ruling regime. Shahzain Bugti is the grandson of Akbar Khan Bugti, a prominent leader of the Baloch movement and who was killed in 2006 by the Pakistani military in an operation under the direction of then military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
The timing of the resignation by an ally is significant as it comes moments before the crucial rally by Imran Khan in Islamabad. Experts and analysts see the rally as a show of strength and an attempt to put up a brave face by Imran Khan a day before the national assembly of Pakistan takes a no-confidence motion jointly filed by the major opposition parties.
The opposition Democratic Movement claims that it has the required numbers in the 342 member national assembly to remove the Imran Khan government as more than 20 ruling party’s members are in touch with them. The claims of the opposition gained weight as media reports in Pakistan claimed that around 50 ministers of federal and provincial governments in Pakistan are said to be missing, out of which, 20 are federal and provincial advisers and special assistants, while five are the ministers of the state and roughly 15 to 20 are the special assistants to the prime minister and chief ministers.
The PTI led coalition was formed with the support of 179 members, with Imran Khan’s PTI having 155 members, and four major allies Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) having seven, five, five and three members respectively.
Imran Khan’s situation is precarious given that three of the four allies, that is, MQM-P, PML-Q and BAP have stated their support to the Opposition’s no-confidence motion and said that they will vote accordingly.
With inputs from ANI