PM Imran Khan should step down to end crisis, says PTI founding member

• Further divisions in PTI as founding member asks party chairman to step down.
• Najeeb Haroon says PM Khan should resign and bring forward any other member from the party to become PM.
  
• Najeeb Haroon, Aamir Talal Gopang, Afzal Khan Dhandla also distance themselves from PTI.

ISLAMABAD: Amid the ongoing political unrest in the country, MNA Najeeb Haroon, who is also the founding member of PTI, said the only way to end the turmoil is the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Speaking in Geo News programme Naya Pakistan, Haroon said that the PM should resign and bring forward any other member from the party to become prime minister.

"That's the only way to move forward and bring this crisis to an end," he stated.

The MNA was of the view that not only the government but the party is also at stake by this stalemate situation.

Read more: PTI to issue show-cause notices to dissident MPs today. says Asad Umar

"The country can no longer sustain instability and PM Imran Khan must shed his stubbornness and somebody else from within the party be brought forward as the prime ministerial candidate," he suggested.

Reaffirming his support for the party in the crisis, despite having differences, he said: "I am founding member and conveyed my thinking to the premier in a meeting as well."

Haroon, like several other MNAs, also distanced himself from the stance taken by federal ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry who "categorically" stated that there was "no space" for minus-Imran Khan formula.

More PTI MNAs announce to vote on no-trust motion

Earlier during the show, another disgruntled MP of PTI Aamir Talal Gopang appeared and denied the impression that he is voting against the party line after being bribed by the Opposition.

After Gopang's decision, the number of PTI disgruntled MPs reached 14 as Afzal Khan Dhandla also released a video message, confirming his distance from the party.

Gopang, who was elected from NA-186 Alipur constituency, Muzaffargarh, Punjab, said: "I am saying it under oath that I haven't taken any perks and privileges for casting vote against the party line."

In his video message, released seprately, he said that no development work was done in his constituency during Imran Khan's tenure.

Read more: PTI workers stage violent protest, enter Sindh House in Islamabad by force

"I will decide on the no-confidence motion according to the people and my conscience,” he said, adding that three and a half years ago he joined the PTI thinking that he would serve his people, solve the problems of the people of the constituency but it is sad to say that PM Imran Khan and his team has not done any work during the last three and a half years.

The disgruntled member said that he would go to the National Assembly on the day of the no-confidence motion and vote according to the opinion of his people and his conscience.

On the other hand, PTI MNA Afzal Dhandla from Bhakkar said in a video message that he has not received any offer of money from anywhere. 

The lawmaker said that he has a longstanding relationship with PML-N which cannot be denied and every Pakistani is worried about the internal, political and economic situation of the country at present.

Dhandla went on to say that he will decide on voting for a no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan after consulting with the voters of his constituency. 

“I will use my vote in accordance with my conscience and not under any greed or pressure,” he added.