New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who outsmarted the Opposition to avoid a no-confidence motion Sunday, has proposed former Chief Justice (retd) Gulzar Ahmed as caretaker Prime Minister, Radio Pakistan reported.
The decision was taken after consultations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) core committee, reports said.
Just 24 hours ago, Khan advised the President to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections, after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri scuttled a hotly-anticipated no-trust vote against him. Suri said the no-trust vote violated the country’s Constitution. Later, on Khan’s advice, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly.
President Alvi then wrote to Khan and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to propose names of a caretaker prime minister. The President is empowered to choose a caretaker prime minister in consultation with Khan and Sharif, his office has said.
Earlier Monday, the Cabinet Secretariat issued a notification stating Khan had “ceased to hold the office of the prime minister of Pakistan with immediate effect”.
However, according to the Constitution, the president “may ask the prime minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office of Prime Minister”.
Khan’s government had been reduced to a minority last week, after two key allies withdrew support and confirmed they would vote against Khan. The prime minister also faced dissent within.
In a brief televised speech on Sunday — after the no-trust vote was dismissed — Khan asked citizens to “prepare for elections”. “No corrupt forces will decide what the future of the country will be,” he said, reiterating the allegation that the country’s Opposition was working with the US to overthrow him.
The Opposition has taken Khan to the Supreme Court, questioning the Constitutional validity of his moves. Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif has accused Khan of high treason.
Imran Khan has called a meeting of his PTI colleagues Tuesday to discuss ticket distribution for the next elections that are to be held within 90 days.
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