No-trust move submitted for Pakistan's betterment: Shahbaz

• Earlier today, Opposition had submitted no-confidence move.
• Fazl says nation will soon hear good news regarding the success of the no-confidence motion.
• PPP's Zardari believes that no party can steer Pakistan out of the tough crisis singlehandedly.

ISLAMABAD: The Opposition decided to submit the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan for the betterment of Pakistan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference flanked by former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman; he said: “We have taken this decision for the people of Pakistan and not for ourselves.”

The incumbent PTI government has "mortgaged our future generations by taking hefty loans," he added. 

Shahbaz accused the PTI-led government to have "reinstalled the development projects which were initiated by the previous government and claiming them as their own projects."

“They criticised China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project when they were in the Opposition; however, they are now taking credit for it,” he said.

Shedding light on PM Imran Khan’s speech on Sunday, he said: “The PM has angered the international allies of Pakistan who stood by the country in good and bad times.”

“The language used against the European Union was inappropriate so much so that not a single word can be repeated here,” Shahbaz said, recalling PM Imran Khan’s speech during a public rally in the Tehsil Mailsi of the Vehari District two days ago.

'Selected PM has destroyed Pakistan'

Since the last three years, the “selected prime minister” has destroyed Pakistan economically and socially and such destruction is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan, Shahbaz said.

“We have submitted a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly Secretariat and all parties have signed the document,” he said.

Speaking about the Opposition’s efforts to complete their numbers, he said that it was the parties' responsibility and right to contact everybody and “we, therefore, also approached PTI leaders.”

“We invite all those PTI leaders whose conscience has been awakened to come and support us,” Shahbaz said.

‘We are not ashamed of our stance'

Speaking on the occasion, the JUI-F chief — who is also the president of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — said that during the general elections of 2018, the PTI had "looted the mandate of the voters."

“We are not ashamed of our stance,” he said, adding that the long march against the government scheduled to begin on March 23 is a part of the process to raise awareness about the PTI government.

Fazl further added that the Opposition knows about the "true face" of Prime Minister Imran Khan. “We know about your true identity and the evils and filths of your mind,” he said.

“The Opposition has united due to national interest and the no-confidence motion will succeed,” he said, adding that the parties stand with democracy and aim to strengthen Pakistan.

Fazl was of the view that in the past, Pakistan had no enemies; however, because of the PTI government, several countries are now against Pakistan.

“We believe in success and the nation will soon hear good news regarding the success of the no-confidence motion,” he claimed.

Journalism is a major pillar of democracy: Zardari

Speaking about the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016; former president Asif Ali Zardari said that journalism is one of the greatest pillars of democracy.

“Several journalists disagreed with me during PPP’s tenure, they even slandered me but I still tolerated it,” he said.

Zardari was of the view that no party could steer Pakistani out of the tough crisis singlehandedly.

“We have to work together, therefore, we invite all friends in order to liberate our future generations from this difficult phase,” he reiterated.

Regarding numbers, he said they will bring all members and will complete more than 172 votes.

“Members of his own party [PTI] are also unhappy with the performance of Prime Minister Imran Khan,” he said without naming anyone

Opposition submits no-confidence motion in National Assembly Secretariat

Earlier today, the Opposition had submitted the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly Secretariat in a bid to oust the premier, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had confirmed.

A total of 86 lawmakers from the Opposition parties have signed the no-confidence motion, sources said. JUI-F's Shahida Akhtar Ali, PML-N's Khawaja Saad Rafique, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Ayaz Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique and PPP's Naveed Qamar and Shazia Marri submitted the no-trust motion and requisition for a session to the NA Secretariat.

In a major development, former senior minister Punjab Aleem Khan joined Jahangir Khan Tareen's PTI faction a day earlier as he had reservations regarding the prime minister's policies. He, however, did not specify who will the group support once the no-confidence motion is moved.

Opposition claims to have the numbers

The Opposition is confident of having the required numbers to remove PM Imran Khan, sources said, adding that they are claiming of having the support of 202 National Assembly members.

The Opposition has claimed that they have the backing of 28 PTI lawmakers and others from an ally of the government, sources said.

PML-N has the support of at least 16 PTI lawmakers, PPP has four, and JUI-F has the support of two lawmakers, sources said.

Meanwhile, six more members from the PTI are in contact with the PML-N, sources said.