LAHORE, March 5: Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz says the Pakistan People's Party legislators will vote for Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in case a no-confidence motion is moved against him.

“On the direction of President Asif Ali Zardari, our party will stand against any move to destabilise Shahbaz's government in Punjab. However, we will do issue-based politics while sitting on the opposition benches,” Riaz made it clear. He was speaking to reporters outside the assembly here on Saturday.

Riaz was clearing his party position that neither it would bring a no-confidence move against the chief minister nor would it support any such step. His statement is being seen as a message to the PML-Q.

The opposition leader said the chief minister should be thankful to the federal government for financial assistance to save it from bankruptcy. “It is just because of bad governance of Shahbaz that the province is facing financial crisis,” he said, adding the chief minister's polices were forcing different segments of society like doctors, teachers, students and the government employees to hold demonstrations almost every day.

Riaz asked Shahbaz to close the “turncoat manufacturing factory” as the step would weaken democracy. He also advised the chief minister to ensure his presence in the house proceedings as from now onwards the opposition would not let him skip the sessions.