Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain Chaudhry on Wednesday said that the government has the support of 184 members while urging National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to end the political uncertainty in the country by summoning the session of the lower house of Parliament on the opposition's no-confidence motion.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, the minister asked the opposition to show some courage and show the list of members supporting their no-confidence move in the media first.
Taking his cue from PM Imran's ballistic address to supporters at the Sindh Governor's House in Karachi earlier in the day in which he named opposition leaders while warning them of dire consequences, Fawad Chaudhry also blasted the opposition leadership.
He said that the PML-N and PPP had developed a modus operandi where they would spend millions of rupees to buy support in order to win elections. "Once in power, they make twice as much as originally invested to get elected and then they stash those ill-gotten gains abroad."
Like Imran, Fawad also singled out Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari as those who are responsible for the culture of horsetrading in Pakistani politics. "They used to offer millions to lawmakers to change their loyalties," said Fawad, adding that PDM leader Fazlur Rehman was another one to make use of this practise.
He asserted that PTI allies would not switch loyalties and cater to opportunist politicians with vested interests.
Fawad further said that the the MNAs of the ruling PTI has informed him that they were offered up to Rs 100 million to vote for in favour of the no-confidence motion against the premier. ""They have rejected such offers."
Fawad also lashed out at PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif for criticizing the government's foreign policy regarding the European Union, saying that the countries prefer their national interests and what Imran Khan said was in the national interest of the country.
He said that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) purported powershow in Punjab was a flop and the people of Punjab had slapped in their face.
He added that the PPP was using government’s resources for their election campaign and accused PPP of using NFC funds for their long march.
When asked whether Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar's position had become untenable, he said that the decision to remove it or retain him rests with the Punjab Assembly.
"Prime Minister Imran khan has refused to remove CM Punjab as he is satisfied with Buzdar's performance," he added.
Speaking alongisde Fawad, Hammad Azhar called the no-confidence motion a conspiracy against the government and an attack on the country’s economy.
He said that the current economical crisis is a global phenomenon as earlier the pandemic disrupted economic activities and now the Ukraine-Russia crisis is weighing on the global economic activities.
