The Pakistan president has dissolved the parliament on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, who called for fresh elections after a no-confidence motion brought by the joint opposition was dismissed by the deputy speaker of the National Assembly.
The deputy speaker declared the motion unconstitutional, saying it is part of a plot by what he called “foreign powers” to interfere in Pakistan’s democracy.
The opposition, which was hoping to unseat prime minister Khan, has cried foul, as Opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says they will petition the Supreme Court against the move.
“There will be consequences for blatant and brazen violation of the Constitution. Hope Supreme Court will play it’s role to uphold the Constitution,” he tweeted.
The supreme court will hear arguments related to the president’s shock dissolution of parliament on Monday, a statement from the body has announced.
“This is an urgent matter. The case is fixed for tomorrow. Notices are issued to all political parties and state functionaries,” said Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
The opposition thought it had the votes to remove Khan after several political allies and members of his party switched sides.
In an address on state TV, Imran Khan said there had been unacceptable interference in Pakistan’s democratic institutions, and an interim government should be formed to hold elections.
“I have sent advice to the president to dissolve the assemblies… We will go to the public and hold elections and let the nation decide,” he said.
“When the advice reaches the president, assemblies will be dissolved which will be followed by the process of setting up a caretaker government,” he added.
Pakistan’s state minister for information says the country will hold an election in 90 days.
Farrukh Habib made the announcement in a tweet, although a final decision will come from the president and the election commission.
“We are ready for the general elections but we cannot allow violation of the rules and the constitution. They (government) want instability in Pakistan but we will once again defeat them,” opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.
“The court is bound to side with the constitution of Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army says it has nothing to do with the current political crisis.
“We have nothing to do with what has happened today (in parliament),” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
