Pakistan: More allies abandon PTI GOVT

Islamabad, March 24 : The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government led Prime Minister Imran Khan finds itself in political isolation as more and more of its allies switch sides with the opposition on the no-confidence motion, Dawn reported on Thursday. This has forced the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) into an overdrive to try and appease the disgruntled allies in an effort to keep the numbers on their side in the National Assembly. PTI leaders met with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in an effort to pacify it by reassuring them that their concerns and reservations would be addressed. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the next 48 hours were “quite crucial” as the PTI would try and clear the political ambiguity and hoped that the allies will not abandon them in this hour of need. He further informed that Imran Khan had directed his party leaders to stage the “country’s biggest” public meeting at the Parade Ground on March 27 as a “show of power” before the vote on the no-confidence motion. Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Industries Minister Khusro Bakhtiar and Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak gave separate briefings on the arrangements being made to bring as many people to the federal capital as possible to participate in the party’s power show from across the country. ACL1123