Pakistan PM Imran Khan's ally PML-Q rejects horse-trading allegations

An ally of Imran Khan-led PTI government, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussainrejected horse-trading allegations ahead of the no-confidence motion.

An ally of Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Friday rejected horse-trading allegations ahead of the no-confidence motion.

Hussian said, "This is the first no-confidence motion in which no one is buying or selling votes, this is just propaganda," reported Geo News.

In an official statement, the PML-Q leader said that he had been observing it in newspapers and on TV that "bundles of notes" are being distributed ahead of the no-confidence motion. He added that even Prime Minister Imran Khan had mentioned that "bundles of notes" were being distributed in Sindh House.

The PML-Q leader said that the government always tries to stop public gatherings and it was the "first time" that the Opposition and the government were holding rallies on the same issue. The Opposition is insisting on holding public gatherings due to the government's announcement.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry had claimed a day earlier that the Sindh House in Islamabad, "is currently the centre of horse-trading," while accusing the Opposition of buying the votes of MNAs, reported Geo News.

He had alleged that there were "reports of huge sums of money being shifted to the Sindh House," adding that the PPP has deputed police outside it to accommodate people there.

Following the claims, the Sindh House had become the centre of attention, with PTI MNA Raja Riaz, who is residing therein, claiming that 24 lawmakers were staying at the lodge.

The claims made by the minister and Riaz had also pushed PTI workers in Islamabad to stage a sit-in outside the Sindh House, reported Geo News.

While the protest started off peacefully at the beginning, it soon took a violent turn as demonstrators broke the gate open and stormed inside the Sindh House. The incident happened despite the presence of a heavy contingent of police outside the lodge.

The Opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion seeking the ouster of PM Imran Khan on March 8, accusing him of "mismanaging the economy and poor governance."

Amid all this, the PTI has called for a public gathering on March 27 -- a day before the no-confidence motion. Soon after the announcement, the Opposition also announced that it would lead a long march to Islamabad ahead of the no-confidence motion, reported Geo News.