The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has reportedly reached an agreement with the joint opposition regarding the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan, after a late-night meeting at Parliament Lodges between the two groups.
An MQM spokesperson said they would share more details about the agreement during a press conference initially scheduled for 4pm, but later delayed.
Heralding the agreement, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari stated, “The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. The MQM-P’s Rabita Committee and the PPP’s CEC [Central Executive Committee] will ratify the said agreement. We will then share the details with the media in a news conference. Congratulations Pakistan.”
The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 29, 2022
The union portends trouble for the the prime minister, as the MQM holds seven seats in addition to the opposition’s 163 seats in the National Assembly, placing them vitally close to the 172 votes required to oust the premier.
The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), formerly a government ally, also announced its support for the opposition’ no-confidence motion against the prime minister on Monday. Former special assistant to the prime minister Shahzain Bugti of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) has also jumped ship, as has Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Yar Muhammad Rind.
Joining the PTI camp, leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) made their allegiance to the prime minister known, after Pervaiz Elahi was offered the Punjab chief ministership. The PML-Q has five votes in the National Assembly.
With the NA session set to resume on Thursday for arguments on the no-confidence motion, it appears both sides of the aisle have gotten their ranks in order, despite the political upheaval of the past few weeks
