Islamabad, April 3 (BNA): The Pakistani president dissolved parliament today, Sunday, paving the way for early elections after the prime minister bypassed a no-confidence move earlier today.
Imran Khan has asked President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly, or lower house of the legislature, according to the Associated Press.
Pakistan’s constitution calls for the formation of an interim government to see the country toward elections, which are due to take place within 90 days. According to the constitution, the provisional government will be formed with the participation of the opposition.
The battle between Khan, a cricket star turned conservative leader, and his political opposition plunged the nation into political turmoil.
The deputy speaker of Parliament rejected the opposition’s decision of no-confidence after Information Minister Fuad Chaudhry accused the opposition of colluding with a foreign power to carry out “regime change”.
Khan, who was not a member of Parliament, went on national television to say he would ask the Pakistani president to dissolve the body and hold elections.
I ask the people to prepare for the upcoming elections. And, thank God, Khan said in his speech, a plot to bring down the government had failed.
The opposition reached Parliament ready to vote for Khan from power. They needed a simple majority of 172 votes in Pakistan’s 342-seat parliament to oust Khan. Khan’s minor but major coalition partners along with 17 members of his party joined the opposition to oust him.