Pakistan President Arif Alvi has dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Polls in the country will be held in three months under the prime ministership of Imran Khan. The decision was announced after National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion.
"The president of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, has approved the advice of the prime minister of Pakistan to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58 (1) read with Article 48(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," read the order.
Earlier on Sunday, Imran Khan had addressed the nation and revealed that he advised the president to "dissolve assemblies".
Meanwhile, the dismissing of the no-confidence motion was termed unconstitutional, and has vowed to approach the Supreme Court against the rejection of the motion.
Foreign-Funded Conspiracy
The Imran Khan government has termed the no-confidence motion as a foreign-funded conspiracy against Pakistan.
Imran Khan has stressed that a threat letter was received through a Pakistani ambassador from a foreign country that had asked for the removal of Khan.
Pakistan's Supreme Court Takes Action Suo Motu
Amid the ongoing political turmoil, Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu notice of the political situation in the country has reached the apex court. His judicial staff is also believed to have reached the court as the joint Opposition prepared a petition to cancel the dismissal of the no-confidence motion by the assembly's deputy speakers.
The petition demands to direct the speaker to convene a session on Sunday as the "deputy speaker cannot adjourn the session as it is unconstitutional".
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz is demanding that Imran Khan should face trial under Article 6 as he has "attacked and abrogated the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. They all must be tried under article 6".
What Pakistan Army is Saying on The Developments?
With regard to the political development in the country, the Pakistan army has denied any role. "Absolutely not. Whatever happened today, Army has no role in it," said Babar Iftikhar, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of Pakistan Army.
Who Could Replace Imran?
Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader is believed to be the opposition's first choice in the place of Imran Khan. Shahbaz, brother of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has been a fierce critic of Imran's policies and led some joint protests against him.
In the National Assembly, the opposition is leading the numbers game with 175 members while the government has 164 members. The PTI has 155 members, PMLQ 4, GDA 3, BAP 1 (Zubaida Jalal) and AML 1. While the opposition would have 175 members on its side, including PMLN's 84, PPP 56, MQMP 7, MMA 14 (minus JI's Maulana Chitrali), Independent 3 (minus Ali Wazir), PMLQ (Tariq Bashir Cheema) 1, ANP 1, BNPM 4, BAP 4 and JWP 1, according to The News International.
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