ISLAMABAD – The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has strongly denied any plans to dislodge the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through a no-confidence vote. The party rejected all speculations suggesting it was plotting to bring down the provincial administration.
Rumors of a possible no-confidence vote began circulating after a meeting took place between PPP leader and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Political circles speculated that the federal government might be planning to remove Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
However, PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui dismissed these rumors. Speaking to a private TV channel, he clarified that the meeting between the governor and the prime minister was not part of any conspiracy. He emphasized that a no-trust motion is a constitutional tool, citing how PTI founder Imran Khan was removed through the same method in April 2022. Still, he stressed that no such move was being discussed at any official forum.
“We have no intention of triggering a crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Senator Siddiqui stated firmly.
Official sources revealed that the meeting mainly focused on the Swat River tragedy, where many tourists recently lost their lives. Governor Kundi briefed the prime minister about the incident. PM Shehbaz expressed deep sorrow and instructed authorities to improve emergency response systems to avoid such incidents in the future. The PM Office Media Wing confirmed these details through a press release.
The high-level meeting was also attended by several federal officials including Engineer Amir Muqam, Rana Mobashar Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Abdul Rehman Kanju, and Talha Burki. They also reviewed the general political situation in the country.
Meanwhile, PM’s aide on political affairs Rana Sanaullah rejected media claims of a secret deal between PML-N and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). Responding to speculations about a June 20 meeting between the prime minister and the JUI-F chief, Sanaullah said he attended the meeting himself and confirmed that no discussions took place regarding a no-confidence vote against the PTI in KP.
He also stated that the government does not intend to remove the provincial setup and clarified that the ruling coalition has not initiated any such process.
At the same time, the government issued a warning to the PTI. Officials said protests are a democratic right, but violence will not be tolerated. The PTI has announced plans to begin a nationwide protest movement after 10th Muharram. The announcement follows the Supreme Court’s ruling denying the party its share of reserved seats for minorities and women.
On June 27, the SC’s constitutional bench ruled that the PTI was not eligible for those seats in both the national and provincial assemblies.
Rana Sanaullah noted that the Prime Minister had offered to engage in dialogue with PTI multiple times, but the party consistently refused to participate in talks.