Fawad Ch alleges opposition attempted to buy three PTI lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday of trying to buy their lawmakers ahead of the potential no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Addressing a press conference alongside State Minister for Information Farrukh Habib after a meeting of the Central Executive Committee, the federal minister said the no-confidence motion against the premier will fail.

In a reference to the meeting of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Fawad alleged Zardari and Shehbaz met in Lahore to discuss who will pitch in how much money to buy lawmakers.

Calling them “traders”, the minister said the opposition leaders offered money to three lawmakers, including a woman and minority lawmaker, to get their support for the no-confidence vote. Fawad said the government will not let horse trading take place, adding that it was kept abreast of the situation.

He challenged the opposition to bring a no-trust vote in 24 hours, saying, “You will see what will happen then.” Fawad also appreciated the party lawmakers for refusing the alleged offer from the opposition to sell their vote.

The minister said both leaders were facing money laundering cases in Lahore and Karachi, adding that they will go to jail. “Shehbaz is only out of the jail because the court is not hearing his case on a daily basis,” he said, adding that he will go to jail once the court started hearing his case daily.

PM’s visit to Russia

Speaking about Imran’s visit to Russia, Fawad said the prime minister took the party leadership into confidence over his visit to Russia.

“The prime minister’s visit to Russia is very important,” he said, adding that Pakistan will not join any camp. “The PM has made his foreign policy clear,” he said and added that “our aim is to take forward a balanced foreign policy”.

Fawad said the economy was heading in the right direction and the government will announce more packages to provide relief to the public.