Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government is likely to lose the majority in the coming weeks, a key ally of Khan hinted, as the government appears struggling to shore up the numbers in the face of a no-confidence motion moved by opposition parties in Parliament. 

Opposition parties have the numbers “more than required” to pass the no-confidence motion, said Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, the leader of PML-Q, a party that is Khan’s ally in both the central government as well as the Punjab provincial government. 

Imran Khan, who came to power in 2018, with the alleged backing of the country’s powerful military, is facing his biggest threat to his power. The military, which was seen to be supporting the government, has seemingly adopted a “neutral” stance, as it appears reluctant to save his government amid growing differences with Khan, according to media reports. 

Elahi, who holds chief ministerial ambition in Pakistan's Punjab, hit out at Prime Minister Khan’s government in an interview to Hum TV, repeating almost all the allegations leveled by opposition parties for mismanaging the economy and foreign policy. 

He also accused the ruling PTI of not honoring the commitments made to him during the government formation earlier. 

When asked if Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of opposition party PPP, has the numbers, he said, “He (Zardari) is right. They have the required number … even have more than what one can imagine. This is what we have assessed and seen.”

“It’s up to Imran Khan now to personally reach out to his allied parties and convince them to stay in the coalition government,” Elahi said, adding, “He (Khan) is 100% in trouble.” 

Voting on the motion is likely between March 28-30, Dawn reported, citing some senior ministers. 

“The government was itself to blame for the position it was in,” Elahi said in the interview, adding that the government never learnt how to build relationships and instead “ruined things with everyone, including its own people”.

The remark is significant, as Khan, who used to enjoy the backing of the military until recently, has been known for arm-twisting both his allies and opponents. In a veiled reference to the military’s “neutral” stance, Khan said at a recent rally that only animals can be neutral, not humans.   

(SAM)