Aaj TV English News - Pakistan https://english.aaj.tv/ Aaj TV English en-Us Copyright 2026 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:38:36 +0500 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:38:36 +0500 60 FactCheck: Did PTI’s dissidents vote for Shehbaz? https://english.aaj.tv/news/30319401/factcheck-did-ptis-dissidents-vote-for-shehbaz <p><strong>As soon as the parliament reaffirmed its support in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through 180 votes in favour of a confidence resolution, Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the matter had actually been a defeat.</strong></p> <p>Taking to Twitter right after the vote, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader claimed that the 180 number had been achieved by the support of 20 dissident PTI members, and the actual support Shehbaz enjoyed is 160.</p> <p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media--stretch media--embed media--uneven'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1651547964647645198"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure></p> <p>“Today’s vote is a huge defeat for Shehbaz Sharif and PeeDM,” he wrote.</p> <p> <figure class='media sm:w-1/4 w-full media--right media--embed media--uneven'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" onload="setInterval(()=>{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:400px;position:relative" src="https://www.aajenglish.tv/news/card/30319371" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure></p> <p>Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah responded that Fawad Chaudhry’s arithmetic seemed to be ‘weak’ because the government enjoys 180 votes and the speaker’s vote would have made it 181. He added that people who ‘steal votes’ usually count wrong.</p> <p>“There was no secret ballot and no RTS crash,” the interior minister said.</p> <p>Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, parliamentary leader of the dissident PTI group, told <em>Aaj News</em> also denied Fawad Chaudhry’s claim.</p> <p>“No one elected on a PTI ticket voted for Shehbaz Sharif,” he said.</p> <p>A look at the the latest party position shows that the ruling alliance does have 181 votes in total.</p> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Party</th> <th>Seats</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>PMLN</td> <td>85</td> </tr> <tr> <td>PPP</td> <td>58</td> </tr> <tr> <td>MMA</td> <td>13</td> </tr> <tr> <td>MQM</td> <td>07</td> </tr> <tr> <td>BAP</td> <td>05</td> </tr> <tr> <td>BNP</td> <td>04</td> </tr> <tr> <td>PMLQ</td> <td>03</td> </tr> <tr> <td>ANP</td> <td>01</td> </tr> <tr> <td>JWP</td> <td>01</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ind</td> <td>04</td> </tr> <tr> <td><strong>Total</strong></td> <td><strong>181</strong></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Therefore, with the overall party position and Dhandla’s statement considered, all signs point to the fact that the the PM did not need PTI dissident votes to get to 180 votes.</p> As soon as the parliament reaffirmed its support in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through 180 votes in favour of a confidence resolution, Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the matter had actually been a defeat.

Taking to Twitter right after the vote, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader claimed that the 180 number had been achieved by the support of 20 dissident PTI members, and the actual support Shehbaz enjoyed is 160.

“Today’s vote is a huge defeat for Shehbaz Sharif and PeeDM,” he wrote.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah responded that Fawad Chaudhry’s arithmetic seemed to be ‘weak’ because the government enjoys 180 votes and the speaker’s vote would have made it 181. He added that people who ‘steal votes’ usually count wrong.

“There was no secret ballot and no RTS crash,” the interior minister said.

Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, parliamentary leader of the dissident PTI group, told Aaj News also denied Fawad Chaudhry’s claim.

“No one elected on a PTI ticket voted for Shehbaz Sharif,” he said.

A look at the the latest party position shows that the ruling alliance does have 181 votes in total.

Party Seats
PMLN 85
PPP 58
MMA 13
MQM 07
BAP 05
BNP 04
PMLQ 03
ANP 01
JWP 01
Ind 04
Total 181

Therefore, with the overall party position and Dhandla’s statement considered, all signs point to the fact that the the PM did not need PTI dissident votes to get to 180 votes.

]]> Pakistan https://english.aaj.tv/news/30319401 Thu, 27 Apr 2023 23:30:13 +0500 none@none.com (Naveed Akbar) Shehbaz Sharif speaks in the National Assembly. Photo via APP.