With a vote of no-confidence looming over his government, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has renamed the Prime Minister’s Office’s YouTube channel on Saturday. In a move that has triggered speculation that he might announce the decision to step down on Sunday, the YouTube channel, which earlier had a verified tick when it was named Prime Minister’s Office, has now been renamed ‘Imran Khan’.

The development comes just a day ahead of Imran Khan’s public rally in Islamabad on Sunday, March 27. While the renaming of the YouTube channel has raised eyebrows, with speculation rife that the prime minister might resign from the top post tomorrow, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has continued to rally support for the present government.

The call for rally on Sunday is a show of strength by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

“I want my people to come to Parade Ground tomorrow. Tomorrow we will show a sea of people!” PTI said in a tweet referring to Imran Khan.

In an attempt to bolster domestic support, Imran Khan released a video on Twitter, urging people to turn up in huge numbers for the public rally at Islamabad’s Parade Ground on Sunday. He also hit out at the opposition, terming them “dacoits”.

27 2022 ” ” : pic.twitter.com/keXj75FC09

— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 24, 2022

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST PAK PM

As the twists and turns continue in Pakistan’s political scene, Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to face a tough no-trust motion next week. Earlier, the no-confidence vote was expected to be tabled on March 25, but the session in the National Assembly was adjourned on Friday without tabling of the resolution.

Opponents of Imran Khan have accused the cricketer-turned-politician of bad governance and economic incompetence as inflation soared in Pakistan. Imran Khan has also appeared to lose the backing of the military establishment credited with bringing him to power in the first place.

Around 100 lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) submitted a no-confidence motion before the National Assembly Secretariat on March 8, alleging that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government led by Khan was responsible for the economic crisis and the spiralling inflation in the country.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan is currently heading a coalition government and once the no-confidence motion is tabled, voting on the same should be completed between three to seven days.

In the 342-member National Assembly of Pakistan, the Opposition needs 172 votes to remove Imran Khan. Currently, PTI has 155 members and they also have the support of 23 members from at least six other parties.

I WILL NOT RESIGN, SAYS PAK PM

While there are speculation that Imran Khan might announce his decision to step down at the Islamabad rally on Sunday, the Pakistan PM had earlier asserted that he will not resign.

On Wednesday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he will not resign at any cost and claimed to have a “surprise” up his sleeve for the opposition.

“I will not resign under any circumstance. I will play till the last ball (…) and I will surprise them (opposition) a day before as they are still under pressure,” Prime Minister Khan said, without revealing further details.

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Imran Khan had claimed that the Opposition has laid all of their cards, but the no-confidence motion against him would not be successful.

“My trump card is that I have not laid any of my cards yet,” he said confidently.

Referring to the no-confidence motion against him, PM Imran Khan said,”No one should be under the false impression that I will sit at home. I will not resign, and why should I? Should I resign due to the pressure from thieves?”

PAK MINISTER CALLS FOR SNAP POLLS

On Saturday, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that he has advised Imran Khan to call elections after presenting the budget, claiming that the PM’s popularity had increased following the Opposition’s submission of a no-trust motion against him.

The next general election is due by late 2023.

ALSO READ: PM Imran Khan likely to face no-trust motion on April 4, says Pak minister

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Sheikh Rashid said that he has advised Prime Minister Khan to call elections after presenting the federal budget, which is presented each year weeks before the end of fiscal year on June 30.

Earlier, the Pakistani minister had claimed that early elections can be held in the country to end the current political uncertainty due to the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Khan.

Notably, no Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office.

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