PTI lawmaker Ahmed Hussain Deharr has claimed that the number of dissidents parliamentarians in the ruling party has “reached 45” and around four ministers were about to join the group but backtracked from their decision because of “some reasons.”

NA-154 Multan’s elected MNA Dehar, who is one of the 13 dissident ruling party lawmakers, made the revelations during an interview with Aaj News TV show Rubaroo With Shaukat Paracha on Sunday. The PTI last week sent a show-cause notice to all dissidents, including Dehar, on their stay in the Sindh House in Islamabad and sought an explanation. The ruling party has also warned them of losing party membership in view of no-reply.

“There are 45 dissident lawmakers, I have met them and they say they have been insulted. Previously it was 35,” he said.

To the query how many would vote against the PM on the day of the no-trust vote, he said: “All the 45 were sharing their difficulties with me but told me that they will take the decision at the last moment.”

On rumours about ministers coming to the fold, he said: “There were 2-4 ministers but they have now withdrawn and returned back to PTI because of some reasons… they might have been threatened by the government and warned of their loopholes.”

The minister’s claim came on the day when Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his readiness to forgive the dissident lawmakers in a public gathering in Malakand. “I will forgive you if you come back. We all commit mistakes. I am like a father who forgives his children and I will pardon you as well,” he had said.

The premier had warned the dissident MNAs that they had made a mistake by “taking bribes” from the opposition as the public reaction to such developments would be difficult for them to handle. PM Imran had also claimed that he was advised by party colleagues to offer the same amount to bring them back but rejected the advice with a view to losing government rather than doing horse-trading.

On PM Imran’s offer, Deharr said that he would return to the PTI “next day” when the party would provide subsidy on the basic food – including flour, ghee, sugar, and pulses – prices

Further explaining his position, Deharr said the government should lower the prices of basic commodities and advised it to give subsidies on such items by halting the development funds and stopping a few motorway projects. “The government should bring the food prices to a level when it came to rule,” he said, “I have taken this stand for the poor people.”

The dissident added that he would think about continuing politics after the prevailing political situation. “We had thought Imran Khan to be a big [leader] but he only makes claims and there is no implementation,” he said and expressed concern over the premier’s comment on “taking bribe”.

“After calling us his [PM Imran] son and hurling accusations at us, he threatens us and warns us of different consequences,” he said, “We have values and we are not for sale.”

Unmet demands

The dissident lawmaker claimed that he had submitted his resignation three years ago because of the party’s alleged corruption and lack of rights in South Punjab. “And three months ago, I opted for a ‘blackout’ and decided not to go to the assembly because of unmet demands, which included subsidy on food items [flour, sugar, ghee, and pulses], police reforms in Multan, and bureaucracy [bribe culture in the CM Secretariat],” he added.

Deharr added that he was en route to his personal protest but amidst this, he was accused of taking bribes. He expressed doubts on the premier’s allegation against dissidents pertaining to taking bribes, saying: “Seems like someone else runs the PM’s kitchen.”

The PTI leader claimed that the media was “afraid” of PM Imran.

He reiterated that his stand was for the poor people, adding that the incumbent government next year in the country would ruin the poor people.

Taking a jibe at the PM’s statement on the public reaction, he asked the government’s inaction against the former PML-N leaders who joined the PTI. “I will join them until people’s problems are resolved.”

Deharr said: “We have not taken any money. We have only called for decreasing inflation, end lawlessness, and we have stressed the need for improvement in governance in the last more than one year of the government.”

He alleged that cabinet members, who were being frequently swapped ministries, were giving wrong advice to the premier. “I still say, Imran Khan, is honest despite his accusations against me.”

‘Rs3b of offer for returning MNAs’

The dissident lawmaker claimed that the government has offered his likeminded leaders worth Rs3 billion development funds and asked them to return to the party. “I advised them to divert all such amounts on the food subsidy.”

He used to describe the premier as his “Ertugrul” – a fictional character of the famous Turkish drama series Resurrection. But, Deharr changed his direction when the ruling party welcomed former PML-N leaders in its party.

Moreover, he was oblivious to the show-cause notice. But he vowed to tell all reservations to the party leaders when he would get such a notice.

He expressed severe concerns over bringing swapping ministries among the same faces and alleged they pursued a “minus-one formula” and stopped the premier from working. Deharr said: “The wants to create chaos in the country by its attempt to stage a rally on March 27.”