MUZAFFARGARH: The only ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Muzaffargarh -- Amir Talal Gopang -- has also joined the opposition ranks as the prime minister faces a no-trust motion.

Mr Gopang was the only MNA who was elected on the PTI ticket in 2018 elections, while later on two independent MNAs -- Basit Sultan Bukhari and Dr Shabbir Qureshi -- had joined the ruling party.

In a video message, Gopang denied having taken money or any other benefit from the opposition parties for joining their ranks.

Interestingly, Gopang had uploaded a video message just a few days ago on social media, pledging loyalty to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In his latest video message, the MNA said he was disappointed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government because of the persisting shortage of fertilisers and rising inflation in the country.

Out of the six National Assembly seats in the Muzaffargarh district, the Pakistan People’s Party had bagged three in the 2018 general election, while two were won by independent candidates and only one by the PTI. Later, Two independent MNAs -- Basit Bukhari and Dr Shabbir Qureshi -- joined the ruling PTI. Mr Qureshi was later made state minister.

Sources say Mr Qureshi is also negotiating with the PPP and weighing his options. He was not available for his comment with regard to his future political strategy.

Earlier, Syed Basit Sultan Bukhari had denied that he had demanded any federal ministry from the government and joined the opposition ranks after his request was refused.

He claimed that he only asked the prime minister that he wanted to head two projects to be executed in his constituency -- a road project from Muzaffargarh to Head Punjnad and the construction of a bridge linking Shehr Sultan and Jalalpur Peerwala.

However, he said that he was disappointed when his request was refused, adding that he did not fear disqualification as he got elected as MNA as an independent candidate.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2022