Imran Khan's ruling coalition in minority after Pak Opposition claims deal with ally

Troubles continue to mount for Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ahead of the no-trust vote against him in the first week of April. 

Pakistan People's Party leader Bilawal Bhutto has claimed that the opposition has unitedly struck a deal with Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan, one of Khan's alliance partners. 

The development means that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has lost its majority in the Pakistan National Assembly. 

The united Opposition now has 177 members while PTI has been reduced to 164. The majority mark in the 342 national assembly is 172. 

During the vote on the no-confidence motion, the opposition, which now boasts of the support of 177 lawmakers, needs 172 votes to oust Imran Khan. 

Khan has meanwhile strictly directed his party lawmakers to either abstain or not attend the National Assembly session on the day of voting on the no-confidence motion against him, which is likely to be held in the first week of April.

Also watch: Pakistan: is Imran Khan using witchcraft to win trust vote in National Assembly?  

The instructions came a day after Pakistan's opposition on Monday tabled the no-trust motion in the National Assembly against Khan, who is facing his toughest political test since assuming office in 2018 as defections in his party and cracks in the ruling coalition appeared to have made his position fragile.