The opposition in Pakistan declared on Sunday it would not leave the National Assembly where a vote on a no-trust motion against the Imran Khan government was originally scheduled to be held.
The no-trust motion was rejected by the deputy speaker of the National Assembly and by noon, Imran announced, in an address to the nation, he had advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the provincial and federal assemblies. Alvi accepted his recommendation to dissolve the assemblies. Geo News reported elections will be held within 90 days.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the chairperson of the Pakistan's People's Party (PPP), declared the opposition was seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court against Imran's actions. He tweeted “Government has violated constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. 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 & implement the constitution of Pakistan.”
According to reports, the Pakistan Supreme Court has formed a special bench to hear the opposition's pleas opposing the deputy speaker's decision to reject the no-trust motion. The opposition had claimed support of 176 MNAs, above the number for a majority in the 342-member house.
Pakistani media reports said Ayaz Sadiq of the PML(N) was designated as 'speaker' by the opposition.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of PML(N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, described Imran as a “crazy and obsessive person”. She tweeted if he was not punished “then the law of the jungle will prevail in this country after today”.
Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz's brother and leader of opposition in the National Assembly, described Imran's action as “nothing short of a high treason”. Shehbaz tweeted “IK has pushed the country into anarchy. Niazi & his cohort will not be allowed to go scot-free. There will be consequences for blatant & brazen violation of the Constitution. Hope SC will play it's role to uphold the Constitution.”
