The three minority community members applied for allotment of separate seats in the House after their motion against the Islamisation Bill was not supported by the ruling party and not taken up for discussion. The session was abruptly prorogued to save the minority government on Thursday.

With the decision of the three members to break away from PML, the total strength of the Liaqat Jatoi government in the Assembly has now been reduced to 43 in the 109-member House.

The PML's major partner, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has also broken its alliance with the party earlier due to continued violence in Karachi and alleged government action against its party workers.

Taking advantage of theopportunity, the PPP has moved a no-confidence motion and submitted a requisition notice for a session of the House with the Speaker on Thursday.

The PPP has a strength of 32 members in the House and is banking on the support of MQM and minority members to defeat the government.

The MQM, however, has not made up its mind about the no-confidence motion. Its media spokesman, Ajmal Dehlavi, was quoted as saying: ``We are not in a haste to chalk out our strategy. The matter will be discussed first by the parliamentary party when the session is summoned and it will give its recommendation to the co-ordination committee for deciding the strategy.''

He said the MQM is also working on a strategy to form a third alliance, barring PML and PPP, in collaboration with other parties like the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP).

But MQM did not rule out the possibility of discussion with the PML leadership saying: ``Door for talks are always open.''

MQM earlier withdrew from the alliance with PML. All its ministers both atprovincial and federal government levels resigned jeopardising the fate of the PML-led government.

But lately there has been speculation that PML is trying to woe back MQM to save its government and media reports suggested that one of the reason behind the sudden departure of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for London on Tuesday night was to discuss the matter with MQM leadership there and revive the alliance with MQM.