Former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Tuesday that five MPAs from his party were offered Rs1 billion to change loyalties ahead of Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi’s vote of confidence.

“Five PTI MPAs from Muzaffargarh have told Imran Khan that they had received phone calls from unknown numbers, and they [MPAs] were offered bribes,” the PTI leader said while talking to the media persons in Lahore.

“Today our numbers in Punjab Assembly exceed over 188,” Fawad said and added that the country was currently under a situation of the partial martial law.

Fawad alleged that the offer was given by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

He said that the PTI wanted a working relationship with the establishment. The PTI leader said that an independent inquiry should be held to investigate the phone calls and the bribery offers.

Fawad insisted that the army chief should “ensure the institution’s neutrality” in the matter of the vote of confidence against Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi.

Speaking on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) earlier orders regarding the issuance of arrest warrants of PTI chief and other party leaders including Fawad, he said that the warrants had no legal ground.“ We will file a contempt of court case against the election commission.“

He said that the ECP was fulfilling all other tasks except holding elections.

Recalling the demand for the elections, Fawad said that only polls could bring stability to the country.