Imran Khan called for new elections after no-confidence motion was dismissed
Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered the president to dissolve Pakistan’s National Assembly and called for new elections on Sunday following the dismissal by the no-confidence vote by the deputy speaker.
Stunned opposition lawmakers said that they would challenge the move before the country’s Supreme Court which has scheduled a hearing for Monday.
National Assembly dismissed no-trust move against Khan
As Sunday’s session began, Information and Law Minister Fawad Chaudhry linked the no-trust motion with the foreign conspiracy and said that the motion was against Article 5 which deals with obedience and loyalty to the state and constitution.
Deputy speaker Qasim Suri accepted Hussain’s points as “valid,” and rejected the no-confidence motion on the grounds it was “unconstitutional.” Suri later shared the complete ruling.
In a televised speech, Imran Khan confirmed that he had ordered the president to dissolve the assembly. In his address, soon after the session was adjourned, Khan said: “I congratulate the nation. The speaker has rejected the effort at regime change that was planned by outsiders,” Khan said in a video statement. He asked the nation to “prepare for new elections,” saying the people of Pakistan “will decide the future of Pakistan.”
In recent days, he has repeatedly alleged that the no-confidence vote was a “foreign conspiracy” based on a “document” from the US.
Pakistan issued a “strong demarche” over the language used in the document after the National Security Committee (NSC) said that language of the communication used by the foreign official was “undiplomatic”. PM Imran Khan described it as evidence of a “foreign-funded conspiracy” against his government.
The top security body said that “the communication amounted to blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan by the country in question, which was unacceptable under any circumstances.”
National Assembly dissolved
President Dr Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on prime minister’s advice under Article 58 of the Constitution.
“The president of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, has approved the advice of the prime minister of Pakistan to dissolve the National Assembly under the Article 58 (1) read with Article 48(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat.
Stunned opposition moves Supreme Court
Pakistan’s opposition parties accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of orchestrating a “coup” against the country and moved the Supreme Court.
“[Prime Minister] Imran [Khan] Niazi has openly launched a coup against the country and its constitution, the punishment of which is listed in Article 6,” said the opposition’s statement, adding: “Today is the darkest day in the history of the country in which rebellion against the constitution, democracy, law and political ethics has taken place.”
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) president Shehbaz Sharif termed the move “nothing short of high treason”. He said in a tweet that: “Imran Khan has pushed the country into anarchy. There will be consequences for blatant & brazen violation of the Constitution. Hope Supreme Court will play its role to uphold the Constitution.”
akistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the government had violated the Constitution by not allowing voting to take place on the 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 and implement the Constitution of Pakistan.”
Supreme Court to announce verdict on April 4
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court’s order.
A three-member bench of the top court comprising CJP Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar heard the case today.