It was indeed an eventful day in Pakistan’s politics. Prime Minister Imran Khan survived a no-confidence motion, the assemblies have been dissolved, fresh elections have called and the opposition is fuming over the events that have transpired within a single day.
The nation has been embroiled in political turmoil and a constitutional crises which threatens to have wider impact. The National Assembly was set to vote on the no-confidence motion which the prime minister was expected to lose. However, in an unusual turn of events, the tide suddenly turned against the opposition when the presiding Deputy Speaker rejected the motion and stopped the voting.
The prime minister’s trump card took everyone by surprise, including the opposition which was unable to grapple with the events that transpired. The prime minister then announced that he has advised the president to dissolve assemblies, which was implemented within hours. The nation has been told to prepare for the next election within ninety days.
The ruling to avoid voting has given respite for the prime minister but it has triggered a constitutional crisis. Opposition parties rushed to the Supreme Court for an explanation and the Chief Justice went to resolve the political impasse. All eyes are on the top court but a verdict to restore the assembly and allow vote on the motion seems a long shot.
Opposition parties reacted strongly to the move, calling it ‘unconstitutional’ and have demanded a high treason case for subversion of the Constitution. However, Imran Khan continues to hold office until a caretaker setup has been formed and political parties have been told to gear up for the next elections.
The political drama caps weeks of machinations by the Opposition to unravel a tenuous coalition formed by the prime minister. He has reiterated the narrative that foreign interference was made in politics and a conspiracy was hatched to topple him. The government has used constitutional ambiguities to survive but will its strategy backfire needs to be seen.
Once the dust has settled, political parties should prepare for the next elections and let the people decide. Once again, Pakistan stands at a crossroads and all sides should not take any action that harms the democratic system. Imran Khan has joined the long list of prime ministers unable to complete a full term but the narrative he has built seems to have put him on course to win another term.
