LAHORE. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Friday warned ruling party's allies against quitting the alliance and stressed the need for discouraging horse-trading in the country.

“Pakistan cannot afford any ‘political adventurism.’ The opposition should realise the intensity of prevailing challenges in the country. Any attempt to derail the democratic government will fail,” he said while addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Office in Lahore.

“All PTI members and its allies fully support Prime Minister Imran Khan's decisions,” he said. “Those who will quit the alliance at this time will stand nowhere in future.” The PTI’s allies would always stand by the Imran Khan government, he added.

He reiterated that PM Imran-led PTI government would complete its tenure as all national institutions stood by the elected democratic government. The opposition should not underestimate the premier as he was very well aware of the ongoing situation, he said, adding that horse-trading should be discouraged in politics.

“The PML-N leaders, who were claiming respect for the vote, are now contacting the government allies just to achieve their personal ambitions,” he said.

The minister alleged that such elements were making an alliance to create unrest and achieve their personal objectives instead of peoples’ interests. “If the opposition’s no-confidence move fails, PM Imran would be further strengthened,” Rashid said. “Those who would change their loyalties would not be able to face people in the constituencies in the upcoming elections.”

The PML-N and PPP leaders had abused the national institutions to get power but they would definitely fail in their agendas, he alleged

“The opposition is afraid of the accountability process due to which it was trying to derail the government by raising slogans to table vote of no-confidence against the PM,” he said, adding that no restriction would be imposed on PPP’s long march as rangers would provide them security if they would organise the protest.

To a question, the minister said he had urged PM Imran to hold talks with estranged PTI leader Jehangir Tareen, however, some members within the PTI did not approve of his suggestion.