PESHAWAR: The National Assembly member Muhammad Aslam Bhootani has parted way with the ruling coalition ahead of the no-confidence motion against the prime Minster.
He has decided to support Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in its efforts to oust the Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion. Bhootani was elected as an independent member of National Assembly from NA-272 Gwadar-Lasbela constituency in 2018 general elections. He had received 70,000 votes which was a record in Balochistan.
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He told Dawn newspaper, “I have decided to leave the coalition government. I and my family have strong relationship with Asif Zardari and I cannot ignore him.” Aslam Bhootani joined the PTI-led government in 2018 and has been supporting it for three and a half years.
Bhootani’s announcement of support to the opposition came at a time when the ruling Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) had decided to oppose the Prime Minister on no-confidence motion. The BAP was an ally of the PTI-led government at the center but now four of its five members of the National Assembly have announced support to the opposition political parties.
Yesterday, the Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) senior leader and Federal Minister for Housing Tariq Bashir Cheema resigned from his ministry in support of the opposition parties.
In a statement Cheema made it clear that in violation of his party policy, he will not support Prime Minister Imran Khan on the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition political parties. He criticised the ruling party of economic crisis and inflation. Though the case is still in the Supreme Court but Cheema said that vote in the National Assembly is his personal right.
Cheema said that he has informed the PML-Q about his decision. Tariq Bashir Cheema has announced resignation after the ruling PTI nominated his party leader for Chief Minister Punjab position.