Pakistani Parliament Dissolved After No-Trust Vote against Imran Khan Dismissed
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Pakistani President Arif Alvi approved the dissolution of Parliament on Sunday after the no-trust vote against Priem Minister Imran Khan was dismissed.
Khan on Sunday called for fresh elections shortly after a no confidence motion against him was rejected in the National Assembly over "security concerns".
"I have written to the president to dissolve the assemblies. There should be elections in a democratic way. I call upon the people of Pakistan to prepare for polls," he said in an address to the nation.
Just minutes before, National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri had rejected the trust vote against the Imran Khan government, calling it “unconstitutional”.
In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistan's deputy Speaker on Sunday dismissed the no-trust motion against Khan amid uproar in Parliament, WIONews reported.
The Pakistan premier said the deputy Speaker had "rejected the attempt of changing the regime and the foreign conspiracy".
In a short address to the nation, Khan said: "I want to say, do not worry. God is watching over Pakistan."
Members of Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, repeated his assertion that the move to oust him was part of a foreign conspiracy, and they said that it was therefore unconstitutional, according to NYTimes.
The National Assembly’s deputy speaker, Qasim Khan Suri, an ally of the prime minister, rejected the opposition’s move for a no-confidence vote on Sunday. He said that Khan was still the prime minister and still had the power to dissolve the assembly.
Opposition lawmakers reacted to the surprise move with outrage, refusing to leave the National Assembly building. A handful of lawmakers from Khan’s party waved their fists as they left the session.
Pakistan’s embattled PM was set to face the no-confidence vote on Sunday after the opposition said it had the numbers to win.
The opposition needs a simple majority of 172 votes in Pakistan’s 342-seat Parliament to unseat Khan, a cricketer-turned-politician.
His small but key coalition partners along with 17 of his own party members have joined the opposition to remove him.
On Sunday, giant metal containers blocked roads and entrances to the capital’s diplomatic enclave, Parliament and other sensitive government installations in the capital.