khan: Pakistan political crisis: Imran Khan ousted as PM, paving way for power shift; key points – Times of India
As many as 174 members voted in favour of the motion in the 342-member House while members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were absent during the voting.
A new government will be formed most likely under opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, after parliament reconvenes on Monday to vote for a new prime minister.
Here are the key developments-
Imran Khan first Pakistan PM to lose no-trust vote
Imran Khan has become the first Prime Minister of Pakistan to lose a no-trust vote in the National Assembly.
Despite several attempts to block the no-confidence motion here in the National Assembly, the voting took place after midnight in which as many as 174 members voted in favour of the motion in the 342-member House while members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were absent.
Notably, no Prime Minister has completed a full five-year tenure in Pakistan so far, according to reports.
The voting took place after a high political drama in the National Assembly with the Supreme Court overturning the decision of the Deputy Speaker to reject the opposition sponsored no-confidence motion against the ruling PTI-led coalition.
A timeline of how Imran Khan ousted in no-confidence vote
It took months of planning to move the motion against the country’s premier. As per the Geo tv, by the end of 2021 — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) started cajoling Pakistan Muslim League (N) supremo Nawaz Sharif to move a no-trust motion against then Prime Minister Imran Khan
On November 28, 2021- PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah, indicating an in-house change in the Parliament, said the Opposition would have enough numbers to oust PM Imran Khan.
On December 24, 2021- PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq also hinted the Opposition was preparing for in-house change.
Later in January 11, 2022 – PML-N stalwart Khawaja Asif said the government had lost the majority; an in-house change will be made.
January 18 – PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said a no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman would not oust the government and the Opposition wants to send the PM home.
January 21- Ayaz Sadiq said the Opposition is ready for a no-confidence motion against PM, the time would be decided later. On February 7, PML-N and PPP officially discussed no-trust motion against the premier.
February 8 – Shahbaz presents the option of a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan to MQM-P. MQM-P leader Amir Khan announces to furnish the request before the party’s coordination committee
February 11 – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on behalf of the Opposition, announces to bring a no-confidence motion against PM, as per Ge tv.
Meanwhile, PTI government did not take the threat seriously and challenged the Opposition to table the no-confidence motion.
March 8 – Opposition finally tables no-confidence motion. The next day, PM Imran Khan said PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was his next target and that he wanted the Opposition to move the no-confidence motion against him.
March 12 – Nawaz Sharif and disgruntled PTI leader Aleem Khan discussed the no-trust motion in London. Sheikh Rasheed and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi trade barbs as cracks in the government’s coalition appear visible.
March 21- The Pakistan government filed a reference for the interpretation of Article 63(A) in the Supreme Court.
March 27 – Imran Khan claims that the Opposition’s no-confidence motion is part of a “foreign-funded conspiracy” hatched to oust him as PTI held a rally in Islamabad.
March 28 – Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif tabled a no-confidence resolution against PM Imran Khan. PTI gets surety of support from PML-Q as Usman Buzdar steps down in favour of Pervaiz Elahi as new chief minister; government’s ally BAP sides with the Opposition. Independent MNA from Balochistan Mohammad Aslam Bhootani quits the ruling coalition and sides with the Opposition.
March 31 – Pakistan National Assembly session for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan adjourned till April 3.
April 3 – NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismisses the no-confidence motion, terms it “unconstitutional” and wraps up proceedings. President Arif Alvi dissolves NA on PM Imran Khan’s advice and the Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of political situation.
April 7 – The Supreme Court restored the National Assembly, declared the government’s decision to dissolve the assembly and Qasim Suri’s ruling against the Constitution. It also orders NA Speaker Asad Qaiser to call an assembly session on Saturday.
April 8 – A day before the house was set to vote on the no-confidence motion, Imran Khan said he will not tolerate the installation of a “foreign government” and will turn to the public for support if such a thing happens.
April 9-10, 2022 – PTI’s elected speaker Asad Qaiser summoned the session for the vote on the no-confidence motion at 10:30 am. Imran Khan-led PTI tried delaying the vote throughout the session. However, minutes before the clock struck 12, Qaiser resigned and handed over his seat to Ayaz Sadiq to chair the session on the no-trust motion.
After Sadiq took over the speaker’s seat 174 members of the Opposition voted in favour of the motion leading to Imran Khan’s removal from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Nominations for Pakistan PM due; supporters of ousted Khan expected to protest
Candidates for Pakistan’s next prime minister are due to file nomination papers on Sunday after incumbent Imran Khan lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, bringing an end to the former cricket star’s nearly four years in power.
‘New dawn’
The front-runner to become Pakistan’s next prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said Khan’s departure was a chance for a new beginning.
“A new dawn has started … This alliance will rebuild Pakistan,” Sharif, 70, told parliament on Sunday.
Sharif, the younger brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was for years chief minister of Punjab province and has a reputation as an effective administrator.
His first tasks will be to repair relations with the powerful military as well as key ally the United States, and tend to a stuttering economy.
The military viewed Khan and his conservative agenda favourably when he won election in 2018, but that support waned after a falling-out over the appointment of the influential military intelligence chief and economic troubles that led to the largest interest rate rise in decades this week.
Nightmare for Pakistan is over, time to heal: Maryam Nawaz Sharif
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, vice president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), on Sunday expressed happiness after Imran Khan-led government lost the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly and said that the nightmare of Pakistan is over and it is time to heal.
Taking to Twitter, the PML-N leaders said: “The nightmare for my beloved Pakistan is over. Time to heal & repair.”
Stating further, she said that the darkest period in the history of Pakistan has come to an end while apparently referring to the ouster of Imran Khan as country’s Prime Minister.
Political turmoil takes a toll on Pakistan’s already feeble economy
Pakistans political turmoil is having a major impact on the countrys economy, which is already in a feeble condition. The unrest has wreaked havoc in all economic fronts, further plunging the country’s financial status.
According to statistics, the country’s total debt and liabilities stand at 52,724.5 million PKR during the second quarter of the year 2022, showing an increase of at least 15.5 per cent from the previous quarter. Moreover, the government’s domestic debts are 26,746.9 million PKR, while public sector enterprises debt stood at 1,503.8 million PKR.
External debt is at 21,004 million PKR, of which the government debt was 14,810 million PKR, non-government external debt was 4,222.9 million PKR, country’s debt to the IMF stood at 11,885.4 million PKR, and the intercompany external debt from direct investors abroad was Rs782.27 million.
With the current financial situation of the country, generation of revenue to finance the expenses is not enough as it is not in line with the increase in expenses. Pakistan’s $30 billion yearly remittances are totally consumed to finance imports, having direct impact on the current account deficit, which continues to surge.
