Opposition Says PTI Inciting Violence Against Members Who Plan To Cross The Floor

Members of the opposition have accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of inciting violence against those ruling party parliamentarians who support the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry said that their party would stage a rally on the day of the no-confidence vote so that any lawmaker headed to the National Assembly would need to pass through the crowd.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman commented that threatening MNAs and trying to disqualify their vote was 'unconstitutional'.

https://twitter.com/srehmanoffice/status/1503289065084436483?s=21

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Vice President Abid Sher Ali compared the incumbent government's behaviour to the 1933 Reichstag Fire.

https://twitter.com/AbidSherAli/status/1503299141522362370

News anchor Gharidah Farooqi termed the information minister's comments 'a threat, warning, and dangerous situation.

https://twitter.com/GFarooqi/status/1503304481320337411

"This is nothing but clear message of planned thuggery and unambiguous incitement to violence. What happens if the opposition does the same to harass them? Where do they want the country to end up?" commented NayaDaur editor Murtaza Solangi on his personal Twitter account.

https://twitter.com/murtazasolangi/status/1503248702789586946

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid also said on Thursday that National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser had the power to disqualify PTI lawmakers who side with the opposition during the vote of no confidence. Fawad Chaudry later echoed this sentiment in another interview.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shahbaz Gill also made a statement wherein he said that the PTI members who side with the opposition will be publicly shamed and their photos will be hung in cities.