ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan visited his administration's major political ally in the province of Punjab during a daylong visit to the eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, as the opposition is working on its plan to bring a no-confidence motion against him in the country's National Assembly.
While senior federal ministers have dismissed the opposition's threat to bring down the government, some of the key allies of the ruling administrations have held meetings with prominent opposition figures in recent weeks.
The opposition factions require 172 votes in the 342-member National Assembly to topple the ruling administration by introducing a no-confidence motion. Currently, the opposition factions only have 156 seats in the assembly and are short of 16 votes to implement their plan.
However, they are trying to enlist the support of the government's allied parties to ensure the success of their anti-government strategy. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has also remained in talks with the opposition parties, though its support has remained vital for the government at the center and in Punjab.
"Prime Minister Imran Khan met the country's former premier Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Speaker of Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and discussed the prevailing political situation and other issues of mutual interest," reported the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency while mentioning the top two PML-Q leaders. "The prime minister particularly inquired about Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's health and prayed for his early recovery."
A local newspaper, Express Tribune, said the PML-Q leaders assured Khan of their support against the opposition's no-trust move.
The prime minister was also accompanied by his senior cabinet members, including Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Khusro Bakhtiar, Shafqat Mahmood and Abdul Razak Dawood.
Earlier, Khan held a meeting with Punjab chief minister Usman Buzdar and instructed him to take measures to ensure the provision of immediate and effective services to the common man in Punjab, the APP reported.
They also had detailed discussion over the administrative situation in the province.
The prime minister was also briefed about the law and order situation along with the ongoing development projects in Punjab.
