deferred the case until Monday with no indication of when it would be resolved. Moreover, Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, has officially begun in Pakistan.
This dramatic incident was the latest in a series of clashes between Khan and Parliament, which began when members of his own party and a small coalition partner defected to the opposition and sought to depose him. On Sunday, it was unsure where Pakistan’s strong military stood in the conflict. The powerful military of Pakistan has directly controlled the nation for over half of the country’s 75-year history.
The former cricketer-turned conservative Islamic leader attempted to explain the measures by alleging that the US was plotting to destabilize his administration. Fawad Chaudhry, his information minister, successfully filed a petition to the deputy speaker of Parliament to annul the vote, accusing the opposition of cooperation with a foreign force. The opposition, which charges Khan for economic mismanagement, entered the Parliament prepared to vote Khan out of office, claiming a simple majority of 172 votes in the 342-seat house.
Khan did not attend Parliament on Sunday. Instead, he addressed on national television and announced his intention to file the dissolution motion, which was later approved by President Arif Alvi. Khan delivered his final address, saying, “I ask people to prepare for the next elections. Thank God, a conspiracy to topple the government has failed”. According to Pakistan’s constitution, an interim government composed of opposition members will now shepherd the country toward 90-day polls.
The security forces were prepared for the worst in the country’s capital Islamabad, closing down a large part of the city as a defiant Khan urged followers to conduct rallies around the nation. Roads and access to the capital’s diplomatic enclave and the Parliament and other major government facilities were blocked by massive metal canisters.
Political anarchy has also moved to the nation’s largest province Punjab, which awaits elections for a new chief minister. Khan’s preferred nominee encountered tough competition, and his opposition believed they possessed sufficient votes to install their own candidate. The provincial assembly was adjourned without a vote until April 6 following a brawl between lawmakers.
