Islamabad: Imran Khan’s recommendation was accepted and Pakistan National Assembly dissolved. Elections will be held in three months.
Imran Khan will continue as caretaker Prime Minister. Imran recommended to President Arif Alvin that the National Assembly be dissolved after the deputy speaker rejected the no-confidence motion, citing it as unconstitutional. A ban has been announced in Islamabad.
Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Pak Assembly, which convened for a no-confidence motion. The opposition also brought a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. The speaker was required to be expelled. The speaker walked out of the assembly. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri said the vote of the no-confidence motion against Imran was against Article 5 of the Constitution. The deputy speaker said the vote would not be allowed until April 25, citing national security concerns. Imran Khan was not present at the meeting. Imran said only the people of Pakistan have the power to elect a government.
It was almost certain that Imran Khan would have lost if the no-confidence motion had taken place. The opposition claimed 176 members’ support. The government needed the support of 172 members to survive the no-confidence motion in the 342-member National Assembly. Imran Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has 155 members.
Imran’s position deteriorated as the seven-member Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQMP), the four-member Balochistan Awami Party and the one-member PML-Q withdrew support for the government. There are opponents of Imran in the PTI itself.
Imran had yesterday called on the people to take to the streets to protest the no-confidence motion. Imran reiterated allegations that foreign powers were plotting to oust him. Not a single Prime Minister in Pakistan has completed his term. Imran made it clear last day that he would not resign and would fight to the last ball. A ban was announced in Islamabad today because of possible clashes. 10,000 troops were deployed in the city.
