Finally, Imran Khan was officially removed as Prime Minister of Pakistan after he lost the no-confidence vote at midnight Saturday. Voting on the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan began just 15 minutes before the deadline set by the Pakistan Supreme Court following the dramatic resignation by the speaker Asad Qaiser, who out of loyalty for Khan, refused to follow the Supreme Court’s order to hold the no-confidence vote.
The opposition got 174 members, defeating the Imran Khan government. The opposition needed the support of at least 172 lawmakers from a total of 342 to oust the premier through the no-trust contest.
According to the Pakistani constitution, the result will be sent to the President who will ask the opposition to form the government by proving a majority on the floor of the house.
The Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser had earlier adjourned the crucial National Assembly session, which commenced at 10.30 pm on Friday morning, four times without holding the mandated vote. The all-important session of the lower house of parliament was summoned following the Supreme Court’s suo motu intervention on Thursday, where the apex court announced that holding the no-trust vote was a constitutional obligation. Khan and his senior leadership including former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had pegged their defiance not to hold the no-confidence vote, to a conspiracy hatched against Pakistan by foreign forces in connivance with comprador politicians.
“Kaptan Imran Khan is the most cowardly person. He had no courage to face the assembly…instead he forced his speaker and the deputy speaker to resign, “ one opposition leader told Geo TV.
“Imran Khan tried to compel Speaker and Deputy Speaker to resist voting on no-confidence and defy the order of the apex court and failed. Instead, they chose to resign in a show of loyalty to Khan instead of the constitution. But Khan didn’t resign himself. Instead (he) was dishonourably voted out. In the end his cabinet deserted him…
While the opposition came out in full force, very few members of the treasury benches were in attendance before the session was adjourned. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also not present.
Right from the start of the session, it was clear that the speaker was not in a mood to follow the order of the Supreme Court and he deliberately tried to drag the proceedings, though he was reminded by the opposition leaders to act according to the constitution.
The opposition leaders reminded the speaker that he is committing contempt of court and abrogating the Constitution and he will be facing contempt of the constitution.
"I don't want to go to court against you tomorrow. We have to live in Pakistan. We have to maintain links with every political party. So, hold the vote and end this. Let's move forward so that Pakistan can prosper," former President Asif Ali Zardari told the speaker.
Earlier, on Thursday the Supreme Court in a landmark judgement declared the ruling of NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri unconstitutional and directed that the voting should be held on the motion today according to the agenda issued on April 03.
There were reports that Imran Khan’s special messenger met the opposition leaders in the assembly and tried to “negotiate” a deal, which would include assurances that he and his family members and cabinet members would not be tried by the NAB. The opposition leaders apparently rejected the proposal.
