Pak President dissolves National Assembly after no-trust motion gets rejected

In fast-moving developments, Pakistan President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly after Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his address to the nation, advised President Arif Alvi to do so and call for fresh elections.

Khan addressed the nation soon after the Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Qasim Suri, dismissed the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition, saying it went against Article 5 of the Pakistan constitution. Suri chaired the session as, in a surprise move, the Opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against Speaker Asad Qaiser, reported the Dawn.

Also read: Live coverage of political crisis in Pakitan

According to Article 5 of the Pakistan constitution, loyalty to the state is the basic duty of all citizens. Soon after the session began, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry took the floor and, citing Article 5, reiterated Khan’s earlier claims that a foreign conspiracy was behind the move to oust the government.

Foreign conspiracy

The Dawn quoted Chaudhary as saying that a meeting on March 7, in which representatives of various countries were present, was informed about moving a no-confidence motion against the government. Pointing out that the motion was moved in the Assembly on March 8, a day later, Chaudhary said that it meant there was a foreign conspiracy to dislodge the Imran Khan government.

Suri accepted the argument and dismissed the no-confidence motion.

The Opposition, which was caught on the wrong foot by this move, has decided to move the Supreme Court against what it calls an “unconstitutional” decision. PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto said that they will not leave the Assembly and protest there, pressing to hold the no-confidence vote today (April 3).