Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: After successfully evading the Opposition’s no-confidence motion citing a foreign conspiracy and ordering the president of the country to dissolve the National Assembly, PM Imran Khan talked to his party leaders and poked fun at the Opposition.
“The Opposition is still unable to understand what happened today,” the premier said while laughing.
PM Imran Khan continued: “Last night, you all were trying not to panic. The Opposition is clueless about the situation right now. If I had disclosed what I was about to do yesterday, they wouldn’t have been shocked.”
He said that during the meeting of the National Security Committee, which was attended by the army chief as well as the chiefs of all other services, the “threatening letter” that the ambassador of Pakistan had received was produced.
“The meeting reviewed and debated on the letter, and it was concluded that the letter was, indeed, threatening,” he said. Referring to the turncoats, the premier said that they used to hold meetings with the ambassadors of other countries on a regular basis.
“What was their business talking to foreign diplomats?” the premier questioned. “The no-confidence motion was a foreign conspiracy. It was all connected.” “I remind you all, ghabrana nahi hai (do not panic)”, the PM said.
Later in the day, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has been de-notified as the prime minister of Pakistan, a statement from the Cabinet Division said Sunday after the dissolution of the National Assembly.
But under Article 224 of the Constitution of Pakistan — once a notification is issued — Imran Khan can continue as the prime minister for 15 days till the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.
There there is still, however, no clarity over how a caretaker prime minister will be appointed as the National Assembly has been dissolved — and the people who appoint the person, Opposition leader in the National Assembly and the premier, are no longer in office.
If Imran Khan continues to be the prime minister for selected days, he will not be empowered to make decisions that an elected head of the government can make.
“Consequent upon dissolution of the National Assembly by the president of Pakistan, in terms of Article 58(1) read with Article 48(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, vide Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ SRO No. 487(1)/2022, dated 3rd April, 2022, Mr Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi ceased to hold the Office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with immediate effect,” said the notification from the Cabinet Division.
The denotification of Imran Khan comes houes after ex-deputy speaker of the NA Qasim Suri abruptly dismissed the no-confidence motion against the PTI chairman and termed it “unconstitutional”, saying that it was backed by “foreign powers”.
