IMRAN’S COUP: NO TRUST VOTE TOPPLED

Pakistan’s beleaguered Prime Minister Imran Khan, of whom it was derisively said, isko siyasat nahin aati, has staged a coup of sorts against the civilian establishment.

Not only has he managed to duck the no-trust vote which he was widely expected to lose, he has also had his way by getting the presidential nod for the dissolution of Parliament.

This essentially means — if the apex court does not interrupt the process – Khan will not have to confront the National Assembly where he probably faced an ignominious exit, but will instead go to the electorate whenever elections are held.

Given the hype Imran has created in recent days over the omniscient ‘foreign hand’, stirring a major controversy, he is looking at going to the electorate with his theory of a concerted ‘conspiracy’ by an all-powerful country to topple his government. Given the strong anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, he may indeed get away with his political gambit.

But there may be a slip between the cup and the lip as the Supreme Court has taken a suo motu notice of the political developments; in question will be the legitimacy of a ‘minority’ government which has no business to dissolve the National Assembly — at least on paper.

The move was immediately dubbed as "unconstitutional" by the Opposition parties, which were firing on all cylinders and wasted no time in moving the apex court.

Khan was widely expected to lose the no-confidence motion moved by an Opposition alliance, including more than a dozen defectors from his own political party. The surprise reprieve for the 69-yearold cricketer-turned-politician came when the no-trust vote was dismissed as "unconstitutional" by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, leading to vociferous protests by the Opposition.

Khan, who had effectively lost majority in the 342-member National Assembly, made a brief address to the nation in which he said he has recommended dissolution of the House and sought fresh elections. Khan congratulated the nation and said the deputy speaker had "rejected the attempt to change his legitimate regime".

"The nation should prepare for elections," he said, adding that the no-confidence was actually a "foreign agenda".

"Prepare for elections. No corrupt forces will decide what the future of the country will be. Once the assemblies are dissolved, the procedure for the next election and the caretaker government will begin," Khan said.

Later, President Arif Alvi's office said he has dissolved the National Assembly as per the advice of the prime minister. No Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion, terming it as against the Constitution and rules of Pakistan.

The stunned Opposition termed the entire process as against the Constitution and its lawmakers refused to leave the House premises. "We are going to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court,” said Shehbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.