ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Assembly was dissolved by President Arif Alvi on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, paving the way for the conduct of fresh elections in the Islamic nation.
A senior leader of PM Khan’s party, PTI said that the fresh elections will be held within three months.
The President’s announcement came within an hour of Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri rejecting a no-confidence motion moved by a joint Opposition, citing contradiction to Article 5 of the Pakistani Constitution which says loyalty to the state is the basic duty of every citizen.
Soon after the announcement, PM Khan, in a televised address to the nation, said “foreign-based forces” were behind the “conspiracy” to bring down his government. The Pakistani prime minister said that he had advised the President to dissolve “assemblies”.
“The no-confidence motion was a foreign conspiracy against us. The nation should decide who should govern them. Not the corrupt people who conspire with foreign powers. Prepare for elections. You will decide,” Khan said.
Isn't it better for PDM to accept elections rather than being part of a foreign conspiracy for regime change; and indulging in blatant purchasing of loyalties thereby destroying our nation's moral fibre?
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 3, 2022
In a tweet, the President’s office said, “The President of Pakistan has approved the advice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to dissolve the National Assembly under the Article 58 (1) read with Article 48 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.”
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Hussain said PM Khan will continue his duties under Article 224 of the constitution. “The cabinet has been dissolved,” he said.
Leaders of Opposition parties have said that they would take Khan and Suri to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Later in the day, the Supreme Court took up the matter suo motu.