Prime Minister Imran Khan cancelled his address to Pakistan ahead of a no-trust vote. The annoucement came after the embattled leader lost majority in Parliament after a key partner of the ruling coalition, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), joined the ranks of the opposition. A no-confidence motion has been tabled against his government in the National Assembly.

Also read: Ukraine refugee esitmate passes worst-case U.N. estimate

Pakistani Senator Faisal Javed Khan, in a tweet, confirmed that the Prime Minister’s address has been cancelled. Khan is a member of the PM’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). 

Earlier in the day, Pakistani Army chief and the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) met Imran Khan.

Also read: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit India: What to expect

Khan needs 172 votes in the lower house of 342 to foil the Opposition’s bid to topple him. However, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islama Fazl (JUI-F), said that the Opposition has the support of 175 lawmakers and the prime minister should resign.

Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif has been vouched for as the next prime minister of Pakistan. Sharid is the president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). 

“We want to make a new beginning for politics of tolerance and true democracy,” MQM-P chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told reporters.

“I announce to support the opposition in the parliament.”

Sharif said that it was an important day as all opposition parties have joined together to address the problems faced by Pakistan. “The premier, even if he is a selected one, should resign to set a new tradition,” he said.

Another ally of the ruling coalition, the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) with five members in the lower house had announced on Monday that it had “accepted the opposition’s invitation” to vote against Khan.

Also read: Ukraine sceptical of Russian promise to scale down military operations

Addressing a mammoth rally in the national capital on Sunday, Khan had claimed that foreign powers were involved in a conspiracy to topple his coalition government. He pulled a document from his pocket to exhibit it for the charged crowd, saying it was the letter sent to threaten him.

No prime minister in Pakistan’s history has ever been ousted through a no-confidence motion, and Khan is the third premier to face the challenge.

No Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office.