Thread by @_AhmedQuraishi

A consecutive third 'Night of the Knives' in #Pakistan's capital, #Islamabad. The city truly outdoes itself in ruthless politics as a cornered & paranoid PM Imran Khan fights for political survival, scared of his own shadow & party, #PTI, which he built but can't trust now. /1

A cornered Prime Minister Imran Khan is now so paranoid & suspicious of his own party that he banned his lawmakers from leaving the city, forced them to have breakfast with him first thing today, & warned them in a letter published by opposition leader!/2

https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif/status/1367908150096101378?s=19

So bad is #PTI's ability to defend its prime minister on the eve of a vote of confidence in Parliament that opposition leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif embarrasses the PM by publishing an internal party letter that reeks of paranoia. Better media management could have preempted this./3

Further damaging the reputation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his #PTI are the persistent information or rumors released by the opposition that indicate the PM is bartering key posts in the government & the Senate for assured votes from allies. /4

https://twitter.com/_AhmedQuraishi/status/1367519343127494656?s=19

The opposition plays a mastestroke by boycotting today's vote of confidence that Prime Minister Imran Khan volunteered to take. This will ensure that the political crisis continues and not end with today's vote. /5

https://twitter.com/dailypakistangl/status/1367859070921752581?s=19

Barring a major surprise (like his lawmakers openly rebelling--unlikely, but possible) Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to get the vote today (Will he make 174 votes like he did in 2018?). A bigger question remains: Wil he keep his weak & mostly incompetent cabinet? /6

In case you enjoyed this Nights of the Knives series from #Islamabad #Pakistan, you might want to check what I wrote about the last two nights: /7

https://twitter.com/_AhmedQuraishi/status/1367519343127494656?s=19

and

https://twitter.com/_AhmedQuraishi/status/1366907404705820675?s=19

)

#Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan secures a vote of confidence in Parliament, as expected, with an impressive 178 vote tally, a much needed symbolic win for a party divided by internal suspicions. The opposition succeeds in dampening the win by boycotting the vote. /8

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar's seat is on the line now after #PrimeMinisterImranKhan succeeds in securing the #VoteOfConfidence in Parliament. Could be a heavy price.

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