Leaders from the PPP, PML-N, and PTI denied having knowledge about the alleged planning to abduct PTI defectors before the no-confidence vote in 2022.

“I do not know about it however, the upcoming parliament has a big responsibility. It should make a commission to investigate it along with the decision of rehabilitating the outlawed TTP members in Pakistan in 2021, “PML-N’s Khurram Dastgir told Shaukat Piracha on Rubaroo when asked about former opposition leader Raja Riaz’s claims.

Earlier, Riaz in an interview with ARY News claimed that the PTI defectors knew that they would be picked from the Parliament Lodges, due to which they moved to the Sindh House.

“When we were not picked, it was a hint that the no-confidence motion would become successful,” he said.

PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan called Riaz’s claim a strange one while denying any such thing was discussed in PTI meetings.

“He [Riaz] should answer why he did not tell the nation about such a thing while he was opposition leader for around two years. If such a thing happened and Riaz did not disclose it, then action should be taken against him,” he added.

On intra-party elections, he alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan is creating legal complications for the PTI by ordering it to conduct the elections for the second time.

“We are planning to challenge the order while we can also hold the elections if needed,” he said, “But our point is that why should we conduct intra-party elections again when we have conducted it once?” he inquired.

PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Raja Riaz and other MNAs were already against the PTI Chief Imran Khan during his premiership before the PDM moved for the vote of no-confidence.

“They distanced themselves from the PTI chief. We they got a venue, they shifted there. The information about whether General Faiz Hameed planned to abduct them will be with Raja Riaz,” he added.

According to Kaira, attempts were made by filing cases against PTI defectors to force them out of the Sindh House where the PPP protected them.

“I do not know about such planning of abduction. However, there might have been some information that required providing such security to them,” the PPP leader said.