Islamabad (Web Desk): The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a key ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government announced to support joint opposition in the vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Addressing a press conference alongside opposition leaders including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, BAP's parliamentary leader Nawabzada Mir Khalid Khan Magsi said that his party had reached the conclusion to join the opposition after consultations as they had "come with a new aim after bitter experiences in the past".
"We wanted the country to be handled in a new manner, he said, lamenting that Balochistan has been deprived and the party wanted the province's issues to be addressed which was why BAP had decided to support the opposition.
Shortly before the BAP's presser, the ruling PTI announced Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as its candidate for Punjab chief minister after incumbent Usman Buzdar presented his resignation to the prime minister.
In a message on Twitter, prime minister's aide on political communication, Shahbaz Gill, made the announcement.
Later, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib confirmed Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to nominate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as the new Chief Minister of Punjab.
In a tweet on Monday, he said PML-Q leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi called on Prime Minister in Islamabad and expressed full confidence of his party in the leadership of Imran Khan as Prime Minister.
He said all the issues have been settled with the PML-Q leadership.
Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif tabled a no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri presided over the session, which was followed by the counting procedure to determine the number of lawmakers in favour. 161 members of the House voted in favour of the no-confidence resolution.
Just after tabling of the resolution, the Chair announced to hold detailed discussion on the resolution as per rules of business and procedure of the House. He adjourned the House to meet again on March 31 (Thursday) at 4pm.
