ISLAMABAD: The leader of a coalition partner of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's government on Friday rejected reports suggesting that the opposition was buying loyalties of members of the ruling coalition ahead of a no-confidence vote in parliament, local media reported.
In the past few days, Khan and his close aides have accused the opposition of bribing lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as well as its coalition partners to vote against the prime minister on the no-confidence motion.
The opposition filed the no-confidence motion against the prime minister on March 8, accusing him of mismanaging the economy, foreign policy and poor governance. Voting on the motion is scheduled to be held later this month.
But Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), a key coalition partner of the government, has dispelled reports of horse-trading as "propaganda," the Dunya news website reported.
"Nowadays, it is appearing on TV and in newspapers that sacks full of currency notes have been opened. So much so that the prime minister also mentioned that bags full of money were being opened in Sindh House [in Islamabad]," the report quoted Hussain as saying.
"This is the first no-confidence move in which neither is anyone buying votes, nor is anyone selling it. This is just propaganda."
Sindh House is an official building in Islamabad dedicated to the government of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, which is ruled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Several ruling party lawmakers, fearing raids on residences in Parliament Lodges, are currently holed up in Sindh House. The PPP, which is in opposition in the center, denies it is using “unfair means” to buy loyalties of the lawmakers.
Hussain's statement came a day after several legislators from the ruling party announced withdrawal of their support to the prime minister and joined the opposition’s ranks to topple the government.
Opposition parties collectively have 163 lawmakers in the 342-member National Assembly, while the government enjoys the support of 179 legislators, including its coalition partners.
The opposition requires support of at least 172 members to topple Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
The government’s coalition partners, including the PML-Q, have a total of 17 members in the National Assembly. None of them has yet decided to part ways or stay with the government.