Pak PM Khan Loses Majority as Key Ally Abandons Coalition Ahead of No-Trust Vote

Khan on Tuesday wrote a letter to lawmakers of his party to abstain from voting on the no-confidence motion.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan lost the majority in the country's National Assembly on Wednesday, 30 March, as his party's primary coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) – abandoned the government and signed a deal with the Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

This development comes just days before the no-confidence motion against Khan, which is scheduled to be tabled on 3 April.

"The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow. Congratulations Pakistan," Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the PPP, said in a late night tweet.

The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM & PPP CEC will ratify said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan.

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 29, 2022

The ruling coalition was down to 164 lawmakers in the National Assembly after the development, while the Opposition now has 177 members, ANI reported.

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Pak PM Urges PTI Legislators to Abstain from Voting on No-Trust Vote

Meanwhile, Khan on Tuesday urged legislators from his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, to abstain from voting on the no-confidence motion brought against him, or miss the session of the National Assembly on the day the motion will be voted on in the House.

In a letter to party legislators, Khan said, "All the members of the National Assembly shall abstain from voting/not attend the meeting of the National Assembly on the date when the said resolution is set out on the agenda," per a report by Geo News.

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He also asked lawmakers to adhere to his directions in "true letter and spirit," issuing a warning that any violation regarding this matter would be considered an "express defection" per Article 63 (A) of Pakistan's Constitution.

The Pakistani prime minister needs 172 votes in the 342-member House to defeat the motion against his government.

If Khan loses the motion, the tradition of a Pakistani PM never completing a full five-year term in office will continue.

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(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)