PML-Q cannot be given CM Punjab seat based on seven MPAs: Shahid Khaqan

• Shahid Khaqan confirms that 80 members have signed up to present a no-trust motion in the assembly.
  
• He says consultation is in progress regarding elections after dislodging the incumbent government.
• The PML-N leader says in the next few days we will submit a request to summon a session.

PML-N senior leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the Punjab Chief Minister seat could not be handed over to the PML-Q just based on seven members of the provincial assembly.

Earlier, the PML-Q, the government's closest ally in the centre and Punjab, had asked the Opposition for the Punjab chief minister’s post if they wished to have the party’s vote in the no-confidence motion against the incumbent government.

During an appearance on the Geo News Programme Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Saath, PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, confirmed media reports that 80 members of the national assembly had signed on to present a no-trust motion in the assembly.

"However, once the final decision is taken, we will present no trust move in National assembly after calling the house’s session," he added.

Responding to PPP’s chairman Bilawal Bhutto's statement about forming an interim government for the short term period, Shahid Khaqan said that consultation was in progress regarding elections after dislodging the incumbent government, adding that, "I don’t see any electoral reforms nor is there a need to form a new government for the short term as it will be a wastage of time."

He further said that we had achieved the required numbers for a no-trust move more than we needed to oust the PTI government.

Responding to PML-Q's stance on supporting the government, Shahid Kahqan said, "We have invited every regime ally to stand beside us to oust this incumbent government, but if PML-Q wants to go in the next general election with PTI, it’s their choice," he said.

Responding to the handing over of the CM Punjab seat to PML-Q, he said that logrolling politics had never been successful in the past, adding that, "you cannot hand over the entire province to the party that is holding just seven provincial assembly seats."

"If PML-Q wants a seat adjustment in Punjab with PML-N, we are ready for it, but handing over the CM slot based on seven MPA’s doesn’t make sense," he added.

The leader of the PML-N said that in the next few days, we will ask the National Assembly to meet and we will present a no-confidence motion.

PPP, JUI-F table Pervaiz Elahi's name to PML-N for CM Punjab

Earlier, the PPP and JUI-F had put an option to offer Punjab's chief ministership to PTI's close aide PML-Q on the table before PML-N in a bid to move a no-confidence motion successfully against Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, chairman Bilawal Bhutto and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had met PML-N president and opposition leader in the NA, Shehbaz Sharif and proposed the name of Pervaiz Elahi for Punjab chief minister to muster PML-Q support.

PML-Q demands Punjab CM's seat from Opposition in return for supporting no-trust move

PML-Q had asked the Opposition for the Punjab chief minister’s post if they wish to have the party’s vote in the no-confidence motion against the incumbent government.

Official’s privy to the development said that the chief minister’s slot was mentioned in the charter of demands presented by the PML-Q leaders to PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

Sources said that the PML-Q has told the Opposition that they would not "settle for anything less than the chief minister’s slot."

They added that the PML-Q has assured them that if the Opposition supports them in getting the CM Punjab's post, they would make sure that the no-trust move in Punjab and National Assembly sails through.