PESHAWAR: The provincial ministers and lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf reposed confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in a meeting of parliamentary party here on Monday.

       The parliamentary party meeting of the ruling PTI was held on the premises of provincial assembly building that was chaired by the chief minister.

       The ministers and lawmakers reposed confidence in the chief minister in response to the claim of provincial president of Pakistan Peoples Party Najmudin Khan, who had told a press conference on Saturday that 45 lawmakers of the ruling party were in contact with the opposition.

       The PPP provincial president had also said that a no-confidence motion would be tabled against the chief minister. He had not mentioned any date for tabling the motion in the provincial assembly.

       Briefing media about the parliamentary party meeting, the PTI chief whip in provincial assembly and provincial minister for labour, Shaukat Yousafzai said that the ruling party was enjoying support of two-third majority in the house.

       He said that PTI had 94 lawmakers in 145-member house. He said that opposition must stop dreaming of no-confidence against the chief minister.

       “There are no differences between the party leadership and lawmakers,” he said. About the announcement of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) to part ways with PTI, he said that BAP was never part of the provincial government.

       The minister said that only a few MPAs didn’t attend the parliamentary party meeting as they were busy in the campaign for the local bodies’ elections in their respective areas.

       During the meeting, he said, the chief minister also directed the lawmakers to gear up preparations for the upcoming PTI’s rally in Islamabad on March 27. He said that each elected member of the assembly would mobilise workers to participate in the rally.

       Mr Yousafzai said that the chief minister also said that each elected PTI member would lead the procession of his area towards Islamabad.

       He said that the chief minister also directed the lawmakers to take interest in the proceeding of the assembly and ensure their participation in the sessions of the house.

       Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2022