By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Asad Umer has said that a ‘Minus Imran Khan’ formula was proposed to them 2,3 days before the motion of no-confidence but he rejected it.
The PTI leader said that he was asked to submit three names for a possible replacement of Imran Khan as the Prime Minister including his own name. He said, “I was asked to suggest three to replace Imran Khan.”
“Are you out of your senses,” he replied to the proposers. PTI is nothing without Imran Khan, he added.
He added that Imran Khan believes in impartial institutions, he appoints unbiased people rather than his touts. The story behind the appointment of the ECP Chief would be revealed with time, he added.
He added that if anyone thinks that they can benefit from appointing the new Army Chief then they have not read Pakistan’s history.
He added that Imran Khan himself told officials about the gifts he bought from the Toshakhana. The PTI declared everything he bought from the toshakhana in his tax returns, he added.
Asad Umer said that Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif took gifts from the toshakhana illegally.
They used to think that they will get into power and stay there, but the people of Pakistan proved that they are with Imran Khan. The government has not yet recovered from July 17 by-polls shock, he added
He added that they have filed a petition against the announcement of by-polls on nine PTI seats, and they are hopeful that the court would give a stay order on the by-polls.
Imran Khan would announce their future strategy in the upcoming public gathering in Islamabad. Their ultimate purpose is to hold fresh elections, he added.
He added that despite being no legal hindrance in holding separate elections, all assemblies should dissolve together and elections should be held together. They can sit and talk over issues if the government announces the date of elections, he added. The PTI secretary added that there are no legal grounds to disqualify Imran Khan.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership in April this year.
The vote was held past midnight after opposition parties brought a motion against him, following days of drama. The motion was first brought last week, but the former cricket star blocked it by dissolving parliament.
Midnight vote took place after the country’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of opposition parties and said that Mr. Khan had acted unconstitutionally.
The then opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif – who later chosen as the new Prime Minister – had said Pakistan and its parliament were “finally freed from a serious crisis”, adding in a tweet: “Congratulations to the Pakistani nation on a new dawn.”
The vote makes Mr Khan the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted by a no-confidence motion, with opposition parties securing 174 votes in the 342-member house in support of the no-confidence motion.
Mr. Khan had previously said he would not recognize an opposition government, claiming that there was a US-led conspiracy to remove him because of his refusal to stand with Washington on issues against Russia and China.
He has repeatedly said that Pakistan’s opposition parties are working with foreign powers.
Members of his party (PTI) left the building just ahead of the vote, also insisting he was the victim of an international conspiracy.
The US has said there is “no truth” in these allegations, and Mr Khan has never provided any evidence.
