Defence Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday rebuffed media reports about his apparent statement against the coalition partner PML-Q, adding that he was in contact with allies. Earlier, the media reported that Khattak had informed Water Resources Minister Moonis Elahi, the PML-Q leader, about the government’s decision to "not give the Punjab chief minister seat to them."

In a tweet, he said: “I have not issued any statement on media against PMLQ or Pervaiz Elahi. I'm in contact with all our allies on a daily basis.”

The clarification comes as the government and opposition make claims about meeting all the required numbers in the no-confidence motion.

Citing sources, Aaj News had reported that Khattak, who was tasked by Prime Minister Imran Khan, to meet disgruntled leaders, had also advised the PML-Q to take the top post of the country’s largest populated province if the PML-N promised to give it to them. The defence minister was of the view that such a demand from a party with five seats was “inappropriate” and decided to respectfully decline the request.

This came a day after PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday said that the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement has the support of more lawmakers than the required number to make the no-confidence motion against the PM a success.

“It is Khan sahab’s duty to reverse the tilt. But I believe the time to send delegations has passed. The government has not learned how to build relationships and has ruined things with everyone,” he said in an interview with Hum News.

On the backfoot: Fawad wants opposition to take back no-trust motion

Earlier, there were media reports that the PML-Q leader had sought the Punjab CM seat to side with the government in the no-confidence motion as the opposition has made similar promises to them. Moreover, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, in an interview with Aaj News, had said that he had advised the coalition partners’ leaders to review their decisions before adhering to the opposition’s offer.

He was of the view that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had never fulfilled the promises made to allies and claimed that the Pakistan Peoples Party had no popularity to win votes.

Pervaiz, who is also the Punjab Assembly speaker, had also urged both the government and the opposition to call off their planned power shows.

PTI has announced the decision to hold a public gathering of “one million people” at D-Chowk in Islamabad, prompting the opposition to stage a rally also in the federal capital. PDM head Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday asked all the political workers to reach the federal capital on the evening of March 25.