PM Imran Khan will not be allowed to become a 'political martyr': Bilawal Bhutto

• Bilawal Bhutto says Imran Khan is trying to provoke the "third force" by creating a crisis.
• "PM Khan has lost the majority’s support and his government has collapsed," he says.
• Says PPP won’t field its candidate for the premiership for it is PML-N’s right.

KARACHI: PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Friday said Prime Minister Imran Khan would not be allowed to become a "political martyr" amid worsening crisis in the country after the Opposition filed a no-trust motion against the premier.

During Geo News programme Aaj Shahzaib Khanzada Kay Saath, Bilawal claimed that Imran Khan is trying to provoke the “third force” by creating a crisis through the use of force.

The PPP leader congratulated people, saying PM Imran Khan has lost the majority’s support and his government has "collapsed".

Read more: 'Himat hai toh governor raj laga ke dikhao', Bilawal tells PM Imran Khan

The PPP leader further added that the premier attempted to terrorise the Opposition by “first attacking the Parliament Lodges and then Sindh House, but we won’t be cowed down.”

He said the use of force by the prime minister is a violation of Article 6 of the Constitution. 

The PPP leader was referring to police action at the Parliament lodges and the PTI workers' attack on the Sindh House. 

The Friday incident in the heart of Islamabad took place following the ruling party's strong condemnation of turncoats and warning of strict disciplinary action against them. A group of PTI workers, led by two MNAs, had stormed the Sindh House after breaking the main entrance.

'Electoral reforms are PPP's priority'

Bilawal reiterated that PPP won’t field its candidate for the premiership for it is PML-N’s right, adding electoral reforms are PPP’s priority.

He stated that the new government’s mandate would be confined to the reforms which would require a few months.

All decisions would be reached through consensus, he said, adding that the Opposition would deliberate on Shahbaz Sharif’s proposal for a national government for five years, but so far "we have discussed electoral reforms and fair elections."

'Would PPP spend money for a PM from PML-N?'

Rejecting the allegations regarding horse-trading, he asked: “Would PPP spend money for a prime minister from PML-N?”

He clarified that the struggle is not to dislodge the government, rather it is a democratic way to oust an undemocratic person.

Bilawal said the masses and the opposition want a representative government through fair elections.

Read more: 'Sellouts, come back,' Sheikh Rasheed tells disgruntled PTI MPs

He said: “We struggle to bring about an end to the selection system. We gathered the Opposition to democratically oust an undemocratic person. We do not want a repeat of what happened in 2018.”

Addressing the host, the PPP chairman asked him [Shazaib Khanzada] to give him one reason to let Imran Khan continue as the prime minister even for a day.”

He said talks with the PTI ally MQM-P have been “very positive”, and the PPP has acceded to their demands. “We would be working together for the progress of Karachi and the province,” he said.

He said the PM was not willing to talk to the Opposition, his allies or dissenting party members, while the Opposition was ready for talks.

Bilawal said: “It was going to be a first in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister was going to be removed from office through a no-confidence move. I did not go to court wearing a black coat, nor did I knock at Gate No 4. Undoing the selection system would be the revenge of democracy.”

The PPP chairman further added that if Imran Khan is allowed to continue, he would attack the freedom of media.

Bilawal asked the government to secure its headcount or resign, adding that a “few good men” have put their act together to rid the country of an inept person.