Pakistan: MQM-P formally joins opposition

MQM-P announced that it was joining the opposition ranks ahead of a no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

With the new development, PM Khan will lose his majority in the National Assembly and if the situation remains the same till voting on the no-trust resolution, which is expected to take place on April 3, his ouster is all but certain, reports Dawn.

"We have gathered at a historic moment. More than congratulations, this is a test through which the national leadership has to pass," MQM-P's Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at a press conference in Islamabad said. "Today, we are gathered here to vow that we should work beyond promises and ensure that the decisions we take impact common Pakistanis," Siddiqui said.

Following Maqbool's announcement, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif said today was an important day for Pakistan's history as the Opposition had "united on the same page after decades."

Shahbaz also appreciated Zardari and Bilawal for starting a "new journey" with Siddiqui and the MQM-P. According to a Geo News report, the prime minister has lost the majority in the National Assembly as coalition partners of the government — MQM-P, independent MNA from Balochistan Aslam Bhootani, BAP, and JWP — have joined the joint Opposition.

Shahbaz has, in a statesman's spirit, challenged the prime minister to resign from office, PPP leader Bilawal said.

"He has no option left; he can either resign or get dismissed via no-confidence" he was quoted as saying.

(With UNI inputs)