March 17, 2022
ISLAMABAD: Provincial Information Minister Saeed Ghani on Thursday claimed that "Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed and Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry will cast their vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan on the day of voting on the no-confidence motion."
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, Ghani said that the PTI doesn’t know how to deal with political leaders, adding that all PTI leaders who are threatening the members of the Opposition should realise that “Niazi government’s time is over.”
The provincial minister claimed that several members will vote against PM Khan on the day of the no-confidence motion.
Read more: Around 24 PTI MNAs staying in Sindh House, claims Raja Riaz
“PTI’s Aamir Liaquat has not made any claims in support of Imran Khan,” he said, adding that Liaquat and many other members are not taking sides because they are being fearful of the government.
He further mentioned that many MNAs inside the PTI’s camp are "not supporting their party."
Following the controversy regarding members of the National Assembly staying in the Sindh House, Islamabad, Ghani warned the PTI government that if it tries to stop Opposition members in Islamabad, the Opposition will also stop PTI’s members in Karachi.
He said that the members of the government will be "treated exactly how they treat members of the Opposition."
“If you are planning to gather people here in Sindh, please be aware that we will also gather people here and will forcefully send our MNAs to the assembly,” he said, adding that "this attitude will not be tolerated."
“Imran Khan, your time to rule the country has come to an end as you are no longer needed. Therefore, you should accept this fact as soon as possible,” the minister reiterated.
Recalling Imran Khan’s earlier statements, he said: “You used to say that you will make the Opposition suffer but it is you [Imran Khan] who is now suffering.”
Ghani further added that it is now time for PM Imran Khan to pack his bags as he will soon be called the “former prime minister.”
Read more: Govt orders strict monitoring of MNAs ahead of vote on no-trust
Highlighting the alliance of the three bigwigs of the Opposition — PPP’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman — he said that Imran Khan will soon be asking the question, mujhay kyun nikala (why was I removed?)"
Ghani said that an impression was given that MNAs were being forcibly kept in the Sindh House by the Opposition and millions of rupees were offered to them.
Responding to the allegations, Ghani maintained that there were drone cameras around the Sindh House where the members were sitting in the garden.
“If we wanted to hide them, we would have kept them inside.”
Ghani further mentioned that the prime minister and PTI ministers are threatening them and the MNAs do not feel safe inside the Parliament Lodges after the police raided it on March 10.
Answering a question regarding why were journalists granted permission to visit the Sindh House, the Sindh information minister said that earlier, officials did not reveal details that PTI MNAs were staying in Sindh House because they [PTI leaders] were not ready to reveal their identities; however, after Imran Khan’s blistering speech on Wednesday where he levelled allegations against his party members, all disgruntled members decided to highlight their differences publicly.
“PTI’s disgruntled members themselves called media persons and decided to speak to them at their own will,” he said.
The provincial minister said that as per his information, none of the ruling party members has joined any other party.
“They are still PTI MNAs; however, if they want to leave PTI and join any other party, it is completely their decision,” he said, reiterating that not even a single member so far has left the PTI.
Read more: Govt confirms contact with Opposition MNAs, rules out blackmail amid no-confidence motion
On the other hand, MNA member Ramesh Kumar had announced that he has parted ways with the PTI.
As reported by Geo News, Kumar claimed that three federal ministers have quit the ruling PTI. He, however, did not reveal the names of the ministers.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that he has suggested the government should implement the governor’s rule in Sindh after the horse-trading controversy.
His statement comes after PTI's Raja Riaz and Malik Nawab Sher Waseer claimed that around 24 MNA’s have been staying in the Sindh House.
“Sindh House has been exposed,” said Rasheed, adding that the nation is standing with PM Khan.