Chaudhry Nisar said the prime minister had deliberately avoided mentioning the third option. – Photo by APP (File)

ISLAMABAD: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, cited on Tuesday a third course for changing the government after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had ruled out the possibility of mid-term elections and imposition of martial law.

“The prime minister in his speech has talked about two (possible) ways of the government’s ouster and did not mention the third option of an in-house change that is available in the Constitution,” he said while talking to reporters.

Chaudhry Nisar said the prime minister had deliberately avoided mentioning the third option.

Later at a talk show on a news channel, Chaudhry Nisar said that Mr Gilani “cannot remain prime minister even if one ally quits (the coalition government)”.

He said the prime minister’s speech was a reflection of frustration because of criticism of the government’s policies coming from within the ruling party. He said if the situation remained the same the prime minister would not be able to stop the change even by shouting to the contrary from the roof of the National Assembly.