After Gilani’s win in Pakistan Senate polls; PM Imran Khan to seek vote of confidence on Thursday

4th March 20214th March 2021 ANN News

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be seeking a vote of confidence in the national parliament on Thursday after the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost a Senate seat to former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Khan will take a vote of confidence from the Parliament.

“Imran Khan has given a big challenge today by deciding a vote of confidence. The government will not rule like rats. The opposition must now prove its majority or else accept the guilt of buying elections,” Fawad Hussain, Pakistan minister said in a tweet.

Gilani, who was the candidate of the opposition parties was elected as Senator from Islamabad on Wednesday. He defeated Abdul Hafeez Sheikh of the ruling party. “Democracy is the best revenge. Jeya Bhutto!” Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said in a tweet.

“My sincerest felicitations to Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani on his glorious victory in the Senate elections,” tweeted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) founder Nawaz Sharif.

PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said that members of the government ‘refused’ to vote for the candidate of the ruling party.

The win is being viewed as a major victory of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of the opposition parties over the ruling PTI.

PTI says the result will be investigated

The PTI, however, criticised the results and said that the same would be investigated. “PM Imran has clearly stated that he is the prime minister of the entire Parliament,” Qureshi said in the press conference.

“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is a political party that believes in freedom of speech. We take our members on board on every issue and take their opinions. It is not right to say that some of our members were disgruntled,” Qureshi was quoted as saying by Tribune.