Opposition groups called for the beleagured PM to resign


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The country is facing political instability after the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan was rejected by the lower house of parliament. Earlier in the day, Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri rejected the motion of no-confidence. Opposition groups called the speaker’s decision “illegal.” They announced Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of three-time former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as the new Prime Minister.

Not only that, Shahbaz Sharif has also addressed the Parliament as the new Prime Minister. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman shared a video on Twitter. There, he claimed, 196 members of parliament had elected Ayaz Sadiq of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the new speaker.

Sadiq sat in the speaker’s chair as members of the country’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -led coalition left the chamber. He organized a vote of no-confidence against the Imran Khan government. Opposition members later voted in favor of the no-confidence motion.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, meanwhile, seems to have thrown a political googly by dissolving parliament and calling for elections, but this is what Nawaz Sharif, the country’s PML-N founder and exiled former prime minister, wanted. After the adjournment of the parliament till April 25, the opposition lawmakers introduced it as a protest measure.

Because under the country’s constitution, adjourned sessions can only be convened by the president and speaker.

Earlier in the day, Qasim Khan Suri, deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, rejected a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Later, on the advice of Khan, the country’s president Arif Alvi dissolved the parliament.

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After the session of Parliament began on Sunday, Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chowdhury spoke on the no-confidence motion. He referred to Article 5 of the country’s constitution and accused the opposition of disloyalty to the state.

Following his speech, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Qasim Suri adjourned the session. Later, in a speech to the nation, the prime minister said he had advised the president to dissolve parliament.

The country is set to hold general elections in the next 90 days, with the president dissolving parliament. According to Article 224 of the country’s constitution, with the dissolution of parliament, the president will now appoint a caretaker prime minister.

What does Article 5 of the Pak Constitution say?

This article of the constitution of the country calls for the recognition of the loyalty of every citizen to the state, the constitution and the law.

  1. Demonstrating loyalty to the state is the basic duty of every citizen.
  2. It is the inviolable duty of every citizen to show loyalty to the Constitution and the law wherever he may be. Besides, everyone who lives in Pakistan has a responsibility.

Is it legal to dissolve the parliament and implement Article 5?

Sarup Ijaz, a Pakistani legal expert, said the move initially appeared to violate the constitution and democratic norms.

“When a no-confidence motion is tabled and the attorney general tells the court that there will be a vote, the move appears to be a violation of constitutional law,” he said.

He said the only solution to the crisis at the moment was the Supreme Court. The law expert said the court could intervene if any action was taken in Parliament with malicious intent and out of jurisdiction. If the court decides that it has malicious intent, then the Prime Minister’s suggestion to dissolve the National Assembly will be rejected and declared invalid.

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The lawyer said if the court rules against the speaker’s move, the no-confidence motion will be put to a vote again.

Sarup Ijaz said, “In my opinion, the court can intervene and has done so more than once.” Although the court is reluctant to interfere in the internal affairs of Parliament, if the Speaker disregards the Constitution, he too cannot be acquitted.

There is nothing to do, says the Pak army

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Meanwhile, in a matter of hours, Pakistan’s political landscape has changed dramatically, with the country’s military saying it has nothing to do with what happened today. Major General Babar Iftikhar, director general of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), made the remarks on Sunday, Geo News reported.

When asked about the military’s involvement in the political situation in Pakistan on Sunday, General Babar Iftikhar categorically denied it, saying “absolutely not.”


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NIRAJ KUMAR