Imran Khan out in no-confidence motion
Highlight
- No prime minister in the history of Pakistan has ever been ousted through a no-confidence motion
- Khan is the first prime minister whose fate was decided through a trust vote
- Prior to this, two separate no-confidence motions against former prime ministers in 1989 and 2006 respectively were unsuccessful.
Despite several attempts by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government to block a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from power as he lost the trust vote mandated by the Supreme Court’s decision. In the 342-member house, 174 members voted in favor of the motion, while members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained absent during the voting. However, it took months to bring a resolution against the country’s prime minister.
Here’s A Timeline Of How Khan Was Made Out
According to Geo TV, by the end of 2021 – the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) started provoking Pakistan Muslim League (N) supremo Nawaz Sharif to bring a no-confidence motion against the then Prime Minister Imran Khan.
- November 28, 2021- PPP veteran Khurshid Shah hinted at internal changes in Parliament, saying the opposition will have enough numbers to oust PM Imran Khan.
- December 24, 2021 – PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq also indicated that the opposition was preparing for internal changes.
- 11 January 2022 – PML-N veteran Khawaja Asif said the government has lost majority; an internal change will be made
- 18 January – PPP President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the no-confidence motion against the Senate President will not bring down the government and the opposition wants to send the PM home.
- January 21 – Ayaz Sadiq said that the opposition is ready for a no-confidence motion against the PM, the time will be decided later
- 7 February – PML-N and PPP officially discuss a no-confidence motion against the premier
- February 8 – Shahbaz presents the option of no-confidence motion against Imran Khan to the MQM-P. MQM-P leader Aamir Khan announces submission of request before party’s coordination committee
- February 11 – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announces a no-confidence motion against the PM on behalf of the opposition.
Meanwhile, the PTI government did not take the threat seriously and challenged the opposition to move a no-confidence motion.
- March 8 – The opposition moves a no-confidence motion. The next day, PM Imran Khan said that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was his next target and he wanted the opposition to bring a no-confidence motion against him.
- March 12 – Nawaz Sharif and dissident PTI leader Aleem Khan discuss a no-confidence motion in London. Sheikh Rashid and PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi suspend business as cracks appear in government coalition
- March 21- The Government of Pakistan files a reference in the Supreme Court for the interpretation of Article 63 (A)
- March 27 – Imran Khan claims the opposition’s no-confidence motion is part of a “foreign funded conspiracy” hatched by PTI to take out a rally in Islamabad.
- March 28 – Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif moves a no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan. PTI gets assurances of support from PML-Q as Usman Buzdar steps in to favor Pervez Elahi as new chief minister; The government’s ally BAP is with the opposition. Independent MNA from Balochistan Mohammad Aslam Bhutani quits with ruling coalition and opposition
- March 31 – The session of the Pakistan National Assembly adjourned till April 3 for the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan
- April 3 – NA Vice President Qasim Suri rejects the no-confidence motion, terming it “unconstitutional” and the proceedings are terminated. President Arif Alvi dissolves NA on PM Imran Khan’s advice and Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of the political situation
- April 7 – The Supreme Court reinstates the National Assembly, declares the government’s decision to dissolve the assembly and Qasim Suri’s decision against the Constitution. It also ordered NA president Asad Kaiser to convene the assembly session on Saturday.
- April 8 – A day before the House vote on a no-confidence motion, Imran Khan says he will not tolerate the installation of a “foreign government” and will turn to the public for support if it does.
- April 9-10, 2022 – PTI’s elected president Asad Qaiser calls session for vote on no-confidence motion at 10:30 am. Imran Khan-led PTI tried to delay the voting during the entire session. However, minutes before the clock struck 12, Kaiser resigned and handed over his seat to Ayaz Sadiq to preside over the session on the motion of no confidence.
After Sadiq took over the speaker’s seat, 174 members of the opposition voted in favor of the motion, which led to the removal of Imran Khan from the Prime Minister’s Office.
(with inputs from ANI)
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