ISLAMABAD:The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), a key ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led coalition government, on Wednesday formally announced to quit the government and joining the united opposition ahead of a no-trust vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan, expected to take place on April 3.

The MQM-P’s announcement was made by its convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at a news conference here in Islamabad along with the leaders of the joint opposition. “We have prioritized Pakistan’s interests over all individual interests,” the MQM-P leader said.

Among others, the news conference was attended by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the development was ‘historic’ and at the same time, it was a ‘test for the political leadership of the country’ as the coming days would pose several challenges to them. He said today we gathered here to vow that we should work beyond promises and ensure that the decisions we take impact common Pakistanis. Later, the Opposition’s leaders thanked the MQM-P and termed the development as ‘historic’.