Pakistan: Imran Khan seeks fresh polls, no-confidence motion dismissed
In an interesting turn of events, the no-confidence motion against the government led by Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan was dismissed without a vote on Sunday. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri rejected the motion, citing Article 5 of the Pakistani Constitution. Suri took charge of the House on Sunday after the opposition moved a no-confidence motion against National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.
National Assembly dismissed on Khan's advice
Following the dismissal of the no-trust motion, Khan addressed the nation and said he has advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the Assembly. Moments after Khan's recommendation, the President of Pakistan had dissolved the National Assembly. "The Prime Minister will continue his duties under Article 224 of the Constitution. The Cabinet has been dissolved," said Pakistani minister Fawad Chaudhry.
Conspiracy against the country failed: Pakistan PM
Khan also claimed that a huge conspiracy was being planned against the country, which has failed on Sunday. "I congratulate every Pakistani on the Speaker's decision. The no-confidence motion was a foreign conspiracy against us. Pakistan should decide who should govern them," he said.
Next general elections to be held within 90 days
The cricketer-turned-politician further called for fresh general elections to be held in the country. "There should be elections in a democratic way. I call upon the people [of] Pakistan to prepare for elections," he said. As per reports, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan has announced that the next general elections in Pakistan will be held within 90 days.
'Crores of rupees spent to buy people'
"Any conspiracy from outside or from these corrupt people cannot decide the future of this nation using money power. They have spent crores of rupees to buy people. But this money will go waste," Khan said during his address on Sunday.
Government has violated Constitution: Opposition leader
Reacting to the unexpected development, the Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, tweeted, "Government has violated constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. The united opposition is not leaving parliament (sic)." "Our lawyers are on their way to Supreme Court. We call on all institutions to protect, uphold, defend and implement the Constitution of Pakistan," he added.
Why was no-confidence motion against Khan introduced?
To recall, the opposition parties had submitted a no-confidence motion on March 8 in the National Assembly, based on their mutual agenda and hatred to oust Khan while holding his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government responsible for the country's ongoing economic crisis and spiraling inflation.
