scorecardresearch
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeWorldPakistan Deputy Speaker dismisses no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan

Pakistan Deputy Speaker dismisses no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan

Law Minister Fawad Chaudhry alleged a foreign conspiracy – an “operation for regime change” – to remove Khan.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi: The Pakistan National Assembly on Sunday dismissed the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying “foreign powers” were interfering in the country’s democratic process.

Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri refused to accept a motion to debate the vote terming it a violation of the Constitution.

Soon after, Khan in a brief address to the nation, said he had advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly and call for fresh elections.

A stunned Opposition – headed by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party – said it would stage a sit-in at the Assembly till the no-confidence vote against Khan was held. PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted: “Government has violated constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. The united opposition is not leaving parliament. Our lawyers are on their way to Supreme Court. We call on ALL institutions to protect, uphold, defend & implement the constitution of Pakistan.”

Imran Khan was not present in the National Assembly Sunday when the Opposition-sponsored no-trust vote was tabled for discussion.

Law Minister Fawad Chaudhry alleged a foreign conspiracy – an “operation for regime change” – to remove Khan.

Imran Khan lost his majority in the House last week when a key ally said it would vote against the coalition.

In an address to the nation Thursday, Khan said a “foreign country” – he mentioned the United States in an apparent slip-of-tongue – was trying to topple his government.

He vowed he would not resign at any cost, and said the Opposition was in cahoots with the United States to defeat him.

Khan said his visit to Russia may have angered the US.

Khan also said this country’s leaders told the Pakistani envoy that it “had a problem with Imran Khan”. “They will forgive Pakistan only if Imran Khan loses the no-confidence vote. If not, life would become difficult for Pakistanis,” Khan said in his address.

The prime minister repeatedly brandished a “threat letter” – which later turned out to be the envoy’s internal memo — saying it had enough evidence of the American threat.

Meanwhile, the US State Department rubbished insinuations that the country was in any way involved in forcing the no-confidence vote against Khan.

“Allegations of US involvement in the no-trust motion and ‘threat letter’ to PM Imran Khan are baseless,” the State Department told Geo News.

Last Wednesday, Khan’s major allies MQM-P and the BAP had skipped Khan’s Cabinet meeting making it clear they would vote against him. More than a dozen PTI lawmakers are also against Khan.

Needing 172 lawmakers to prove majority in the 342-member Lower House, the Opposition said it had 177.

The no-confidence motion was brought by the joint opposition of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party – two opposing and dynastic political parties that have ruled Pakistan for decades before Khan defeated them in 2018.

The opposition alleged Khan had exacerbated the country’s growing economic crisis and bungled up foreign policy.


Also read: Oscar should’ve gone to Pakistan PM Imran Khan for best performance to save his chair


 

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular