Imran Khan’s era in Pakistan hangs in balance

Imran Khan’s last-ditch effort by releasing the ‘gist’ of a purported letter exchanged between some Pakistani and foreign officials to oust him from power does not seem to cut much ice within the country as several commentators in Pakistan saw it as a last-minute gimmick to stay in power.

New Delhi: The fate of Pakistan’s twenty-second Prime Minister and head of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party Imran Khan hangs in balance as a key ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) broke away from the ranks with the ruling coalition and joined hands with the opposition parties. MQM’s decision to join the united opposition on Wednesday, ahead of the crucial trust vote against the 69-year-old leader turned the table against him as the ruling coalition no longer enjoys the majority in the National Assembly.

According to Pakistani media reports, a trust vote is expected to take place on Sunday (April 3). A party or coalition requires 172 votes in the lower house of Pakistan’s bicameral Parliament called Majlish-e-Shura to remain in power. After the MQM’s decision to join the opposition led by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the ruling coalition’s strength has come down by seven members to just 164 members in the National Assembly.

With the change in the situation, 69-year-old Oxford-educated cricketer-turned-politician deferred his televised address to the nation as he blamed a conspiracy by some foreign powers to oust his government. The news of MQM-(P) breaking the ranks with Imran Khan comes a day after the embattled leader was able to win back another ally Pakistan Muslim League (Q), which has four members in the National Assembly and has deserted him.