Pakistan’s Imran Khan ousted from power after losing no-confidence vote
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Pakistan’s united opposition toppled the country’s prime minister in a no-confidence vote in Parliament early Sunday (April 10) after several political allies and his ruling coalition deserted him.
The no-confidence motion, which required 172 votes in the 342-seat parliament to pass, was supported by 174 politicians.
The passing of the motion came after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that Khan’s government acted unconstitutionally in previously blocking the process and dissolving parliament.
Khan accepted the court’s decision but said in a late-night address that “I will not accept an imported government. I’m ready for a struggle.”
Imran Khan has repeatedly said he would not recognise an opposition government, claiming that there was a US-led conspiracy to remove him because he was pursuing an “independent foreign policy”. Khan has indicated keeping the momentum of street protests as a way to pressure parliament to hold early elections.
The opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif is expected to be chosen as the new prime minister.