Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's dissident MNA Malik Ahmad Hussain Dehr continued to flip-flop on the issue of the no-confidence vote, stating on Friday that he has asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to accept his five demands in return for his support against the vote, reported Aaj News.
"I am still a worker of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf," he said, adding he will meet the prime minister only after his demands are met including reudction in prices of basic commodities.
He made these remarks while speaking to the media at the Parliament House after the NA session for the no-confident motion was adjourned till Monday.
Earlier, Dehr had voiced his support for Prime Minister Imran Khan as per a reported by Dawn.
Dehr along with other dissident PTI lawmakers had claimed that it was the premier’s conduct that had forced them to change their loyalties and join hands with the opposition but after discussions with the government, he was back to supporting Imran Khan.
According to the report, he stated: “God willing, I am with the government.”
In the report, it is stated that Dehr also met the prime minister, adding that “some issues" that were pending were being resolved by the premier. "After that, I will support [the prime minister]," he added as per the reported.
In response to another question, the MNA said he was still a part of the ruling party.
Dehr along with other dissident Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers were found taking refuge at the Sindh House in Islamabad because the MNAs claimed they feared a crackdown against them in the Parliament Lodges as a similar episode took place on March 10 against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam—Fazl lawmakers.
Disgruntled PTI lawmakers find 'refuge' in Sindh House Islamabad
Soon after the news broke, the prime minister, federal ministers and other PTI leaders accused the opposition of horse-trading ahead of the vote on the no-trust motion against the premier.
The disgruntled MNAs were found at the Sindh House through media interviews, where they claimed that they were listening to their “conscience” as they had grievances with the PTI and they were at the provincial residence due to "security concerns".
Later, the ruling party issued show-cause notices to 14 MNAs, including Dehr, on grounds of alleged defection, and sought an explanation from them by March 26 as to why they may not be declared defectors and disqualified as members of the National Assembly.
In an interview with Aaj News Dehr had claimed that the number of dissidents parliamentarians in the ruling party was at “45” and around four ministers were about to join the group but backtracked from their decision because of “some reasons.”
A change in the government’s tone against the dissident lawmakers was witnessed when Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed appealed to the MNAs to return to the party and assured them that they would not be questioned.
The government has also filed a presidential reference in the Supreme Court, seeking its opinion whether votes of dissident lawmakers could be counted in the no-confidence motion against the prime minister and whether they would be permanently disqualified on grounds of defection under Article 63-A of the Constitution. A larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprised of four other judges was hearing the government's plea on the matter.
