Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said there is still time for PTI's dissident lawmakers to repent and return to the party fold as the all-important no-confidence vote against the prime minister looms large on the country's political landscape.

Speaking to the media alongside Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar in Islamabad, Fawad struck a defiant tone despite the numbers stacked unfavourably against PM Imran Khan in the upcoming vote after over a dozen lawmakers jumped ship.

"Not going anywhere"

"PTI controls the political chessboard, the moves, and the future," said Fawad, while suggesting that no-trust vote would help Imran Khan checkmate his political rivals.

"Those [combined opposition] who have stepped out to de-seat the king didn’t expect the challenges en route," he said while referring to the opposition's proposed power show in Islamabad. The PTI has announced a rally of its own at Islamabad's D-Chowk on March 27th in response.

He said that political rivals didn't realise Imran Khan's popularity, while also crediting the no-confidence vote for awakening the PTI juggernaut.

"They [opposition] got duped by claims of certain sections of the media that Imran’s popularity is on the wane," he said, adding that without Imran Khan, Pakistan’s politics is incomplete. "Without PTI, Pakistan’s government is incomplete," he said in response to a question about the possibility of the "minus-Imran" formula that is currently being bandied about.

As far as talks about the government getting toppled are concerned, that is not happening, he added. “We can administer medicine to those who can’t digest Imran Khan’s premiership.”

D-Chowk Jalsa

Talking about the March 27 public gathering in the capital, he said its prime purpose was the promotion of good deeds which is why it was based on the concept of ''Amr bil Ma'ruf wa Nahy an al Munkar" which translates into 'enjoin the good and forbid wrong'.

He added that people wanted to promote what is good while denouncing what is evil including those [dissident lawmakers] claiming that they were voting as per their conscience when in actuality they had taken the money and sold their vote.

Dissident lawmakers

Fawad underscored that the door was open for dissident lawmakers to repent and return to the PTI fold ahead of the no-confidence vote.

He added that show-cause notices have been issued to at least 14 lawmakers and explanation sought from them for staying at the Sindh House

He went on to add that a brother of one dissident lawmaker -- who made all the political decisions - called him to apologise for the lawmaker's behaviour. "He told me that his entire family's head has been hung in shame."

Fawad went on to say that the lawmaker's brother requested him to rescue his brother from the Sindh House "which is currently surrounded by Sindh police". He added that the PTI would "recover" the lawmaker from the Sindh House in due time.

He added that the PTI has approached the top court to interpret article 63-A(1) and whether it can be applicable before the no-confidence vote. "The attorney general is filing a petition and the Supreme Court will hear it at 1pm on Monday."

Flip-flopping allies

When asked about the tenuous political situation, Fawad said that the PTI was expecting a response from their allies regarding their support in the no-trust vote in the next few days. "It could be even in the next 24 hours," he added.

On the Jahangir Tareen group, he said the breakaway faction has informed the PTI that the party's input would be considered on any decision they take,

PTI disavows violence

Earlier, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar said that he was grateful to all those people who came out in support of Imran Khan across the country.

"Peaceful protest is the right of every citizen. However, violence is not acceptable," he said in reference to PTI workers storming the Sindh House in Islamabad on Friday.

About the March 27 rally, he said that it would prove that people are behind Imran Khan. “Whoever was behind this [no-trust vote] conspiracy didn’t account for the support of people who have come out in record numbers to show solidarity with their premier.”