'Two sides of same coin': Imran rules out joining hands with PPP for ousting PML-N govt

• There's no difference between PPP and PML-N, says Imran Khan.
• He says talks with PPP to take place if he had wanted power back.
• Ex-PM terms banning of party as "akin to killing democracy".
  

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has ruled out tabling a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government via joining hands with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PP), The News reported on Sunday.

Speaking to journalists at the Adiala jail, Khan was asked about the no-confidence motion. He remarked that there was no difference between the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as they were "two sides of the same coin."

The former prime minister's remarks come as the PML-N-led coalition government lost its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly due to the Supreme Court's July 12 ruling, wherein it had declared PTI eligible for the allocation of reserved seats.

The PPP is a key ally in the centre as both the Bilawal Bhutto-led party and the PML-N failed to secure a simple majority in the February 8 polls and had later reached a power-sharing agreement wherein the PPP agreed to support the PM Shehbaz-led government in exchange for several constitutional posts.

However, the alliance hasn't been smooth to say the least as differences have emerged between the two on the budget 2024-25, administrative issues in Punjab, and the most recent one being the ban on the PTI.

PTI, if it aims, could oust the incumbent government via tabling a vote of no-confidence in the lower house — the same way ex-PM Khan was ousted — if it persuades the PPP to relinquish its support for the PML-N government and instead support its motion in the NA.

Veteran journalists and anchorperson Hamid Mir, while reacting to the SC verdict earlier this month, had said that it was possible that the PPP, who has time again expressed their reservations on the Center's policies, might join hands with the PTI and support their vote of no-confidence motion if the PML-N fails to fulfil its promises.

Speaking at the Adiala facility, Khan said he would talk to the PPP for the no-confidence motion if he wanted to come to power.

Touching upon the federal government's move to ban the PTI, he said that the party had already been banned and was not allowed to contest the elections.

He also stressed that banning any political party is akin to killing democracy.

The former premier's remarks refer to the federal government's announcement to ban the PTI for alleged anti-state activities.

Furthermore, he also slammed Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for criticising the judiciary, over the reserved seats' verdict, and questioned whether the PML-N leader believed the judges were only right when her party's cases were dismissed.

Condemning the Bannu incident, in which at least one person was killed and around two dozen were injured after protesters were fired upon during a protest rally, Khan claimed that everyone knows that innocent people were shot at during the incident.

Calling for the constitution of a judicial inquiry, the PTI founder stressed that the war on terrorism cannot be won without the nation’s support.

When asked about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's stance that miscreants fired from inside the peace march in Bannu, he remarked that everyone knew who fired at the rally.

He also said that he would ask the KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to take a stern stand on the incident.