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Pak's most turbulent day this year as Imran Khan resists trust vote: A timeline
Ahead of the much anticipated trust vote, Imran Khan had called for all his legislators to take part in the National Assembly session. Later, however, he was not present in the Assembly when the matter came up in the assembly.
Pakistan saw one of the most turbulent days this year on Sunday when the National Assembly erupted into chaos as deputy speaker Qasim Suri rejected a no confidence motion against Imran Khan, saying it was against the constitution. What followed was a day of hectic developments that saw Imran Khan justifying the move by Suri, a member of the ruling PTI, slammed the "foreign conspiracy" against him and then - in a surprise move - called for fresh elections.
Here's a quick timeline of how the events unfolded:
1. Ahead of the much anticipated trust vote, Imran Khan had called for all his legislators to take part in the National Assembly session. Later, however, he was not present in the Assembly when the matter came up in the assembly.
2. Islamabad saw a heightened security arrangement as thousands of troops were deployed amid speculation that protests may break out on streets over the particular turbulence.
3. The National Assembly Session, which was to start at 11:30 am, began about an 1.5 hour late at 1 pm. Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry began the arguments and said the opposition's submission of no trust vote is questionable and against national interests.
4. Within minutes, the deputy speaker dismissed the session and rejected the motion, under Article 5, which says that "loyalty to the State is the basic duty of every citizen" and that "obedience to the Constitution and law is the [inviolable] obligation of every citizen wherever he may be and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan."
5. Before the nation could process the developments, Imran Khan appeared on TV screens for an address and called for fresh polls, repeating his allegations of foreign conspiracy.
6. A livid opposition within an hour declared it was going to the Supreme Court. Government has violated the constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. The united opposition is not leaving parliament. Our lawyers are on their way to the Supreme Court. We call on ALL institutions to protect, uphold, defend & implement the constitution of Pakistan," Pakistan Peoples Party's Bilawal Bhutto tweeted.
7. Later in the evening, over 190 opposition leaders held a mock session against the Imran Khan government move.
8. Pakistan's Supreme Court said it will take up the matter on Monday.
9. “Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, shall continue as Prime Minister till the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister under Article 224 A (4) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," a tweet from the president's office read.
10. The country is bracing for more turbulence on Monday.
Amid accusations and counter attacks, Pakistan is in grips of a huge political crisis at a time when there are several other international issues that have the world on edge, including the Ukraine war.
