After weeks of political unrest, a no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was disallowed by the National Assembly Speaker on Sunday, 3 April, citing a security threat.
Though the PM was not in attendance as the session began, after the dismissal, Khan addressed the citizens of Pakistan in a video and called for fresh elections and dissolution of the Assemblies.
Khan said in his address:
"We will go to the people and they will decide who they want. A conspiracy from outside, and these corrupt people should not be allowed to determine this country's destiny by buying off people with bags of money."
Minutes later, Pakistan President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of PM Khan.
The no-confidence motion came after Khan's party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), lost the majority in the House as its primary coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement- Pakistan (MQM-P), abandoned the government on 30 March and signed a deal with the Opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The Opposition parties, who have claimed the support of 177 members, needed 172 members of the 342-member National Assembly to vote in favour of the no-trust vote.
‘Government Has Violated the Constitution’: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has said that the government has violated the Constitution, by not allowing the voting on the no-confidence motion.
He added, "The united Opposition is not leaving Parliament. Our lawyers are on their way to Supreme Court. We call on all institutions to protect, uphold, defend and implement the Constitution of Pakistan."
Later, the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo-moto notice of the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Arif Alvi, Pakistan's Dunya News reported.
Meanwhile, acting upon the advice of the Prime Minister, President Arif Alvi has approved the removal of Mohammad Sarwar from the position of Governor of Punjab and appointed Omar Sarfraz Cheema as Governor of Punjab, under Article 101 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Pakistan Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib has said that elections will be held within 90 days.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)