Pak political crisis LIVE updates: Pakistan’s parliament convened on Saturday to vote on Imran Khan’s future as the nation’s prime minister, after this week’s Pak Supreme Court ruling – that the rejection of the vote against Khan by deputy speaker Qasim Suri was unconstitutional. The ruling was seen as dealing a massive blow to Khan’s hopes of retaining power in Pakistan and his plans of calling for fresh elections. The Pak assembly convened at 10.30 am (local time) with the vote listed as the fourth item on the agenda. In initial exchanges between Khan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the opposition, including Shabhaz Sharif and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, saw speaker Asad Qaiser urged to uphold the Supreme Court’s order and carry out the no-confidence vote in accordance with parliamentary laws. Earlier Qaiser had declared there should instead be a discussion on the ‘international conspiracy’ issue.
The assembly was adjourned till 12:30 pm local time (1 pm IST) but has failed to restart since, raising questions over whether the no-trust vote will be carried out in line with the top court’s order.
On Friday, after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Imran Khan addressed the nation and declared himself disappointed with the judicial outcome. He also continued his recent praising of India and called it a nation of ‘khuddar qaum’, or self-respecting people, and said no superpower – an allusion to the United States that some claim is behind the political turmoil in Pak – could dictate terms to it.
On Thursday the Supreme Court restored the national assembly – days after it was dissolved by president Arif Alvi, ostensibly to scupper the vote against Khan and help him hold snap polls. However, massive criticism followed this move, with opposition leaders calling it ‘unconstitutional’ and the nation’s top court intervening.
Follow all the updates here:
Follow all the updates here:
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Apr 09, 2022 03:36 PM IST
Pakistan is a sovereign state… I want to bring on record, that US NSA called the NSA of Pakistan and ordered us not to go (Russia). Which nation is ordered around like this?: Pakistan foreign minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in National Assembly
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Apr 09, 2022 03:33 PM IST
Qureshi raises Kashmir issue, accidental firing
Qureshi has raised the Kashmir issue and recent accidental firing of Indian missile into Pakistan and Imran Khan’s efforts to talk to India. He said the Indian government wasn’t interested in talking.
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Apr 09, 2022 03:30 PM IST
Accidental firing could have led to accident of war between two atomic nations: Qureshi
Accidental firing could have led to accident of war between two atomic nations, says Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
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Apr 09, 2022 03:09 PM IST
Pakistan Assembly reconvenes after delay, no-trust vote at 8pm PST
Pakistan Assembly has reconvened after a delay; no-trust vote to be held at 8pm PST. Imran Khan is still not present in the House.
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Apr 09, 2022 03:07 PM IST
As no-trust vote gets delayed, oppn says Imran Khan’s party using stalling tactic
As reports of no-trust vote being held at 8pm PST emerge, some opposition leaders are viewing this as part of tactics by Imran Khan’s party to stall the voting. Some opposition leaders want to keep open the option of approaching Supreme Court for contempt of court by Speaker.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:55 PM IST
Revisiting Supreme Court’s order
It must be noted that the Supreme Court of Pakistan in its order had stated that today’s session of the National Assembly cannot be prorogued till the vote of no-confidence against the Imran Khan’s government is held.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:50 PM IST
No-trust vote against Imran Khan’s govt likely at 8pm (PST): Local media
The no-trust vote against Imran Khan’s government at 8pm PST, people familiar with the matter said, citing local media.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:42 PM IST
Imran Khan’s party is trying to prolong trust vote: Report
People familiar with the development citing reports stated that Imran Khan’s party is trying to prolong the issue without a vote. There are also reports of the party trying to gather supporters outside Parliament. The Speaker Asad Qaiser is from Imran Khan’s party and the opposition had earlier also moved no-confidence motion against him.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:40 PM IST
Bhutto meets NA speaker Qaiser, session to resume after namaz break
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Saturday met National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser in his Chamber during the adjournment of the Saturday session, which has been called to take up the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, while the House is set to resume after the namaz break.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:31 PM IST
Pakistan vote on ousting PM Khan delayed, uncertainty continues
The Assembly, supposed to reassemble at 12:30 pm (1 pm IST), yet to resume. Before the adjournment, opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, expected to become prime minister if Khan is ousted, addressed the assembly, urging Qaiser to ensure the vote was carried out as a matter of priority.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:11 PM IST
Four mistakes that led to Imran Khan’s downfall
Imran Khan had made tall promises of economic prosperity and security when he was voted to power in 2018, but four years later Pakistan is in a deep mess with foreign debt mounting and inflation skyrocketing. Watch the four mistakes that led to Imran Khan’s downfall.
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Apr 09, 2022 02:06 PM IST
ECP says elections cannot be held before October 2022
As Pakistan grapples with a constitutional crisis, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Thursday general elections in the country cannot be held before October 2022. How soon can the country hold elections – Find out here
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Apr 09, 2022 02:03 PM IST
Imran Khan ‘disappointed’ in SC’s ruling
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling even though he accepted it. A day ago, the Supreme Court set aside in a unanimous verdict the ruling of the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri in which he had dismissed the no-trust motion against the premier. Read here
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Apr 09, 2022 01:56 PM IST
176 opposition members present in the assembly
A total of 176 opposition members are present in the Pakistan national assembly for the no-trust vote against Imran Khan
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Apr 09, 2022 01:08 PM IST
Imran Khan braces for 2nd big test in a week
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan braces for his 2nd test – no-confidence vote in a week.
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Apr 09, 2022 11:35 AM IST
Pakistan national assembly adjourned till 12:30 pm
Pakistan national assembly adjourned till 12:30 pm amid opposition’s demand for no-trust vote today
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Apr 09, 2022 11:31 AM IST
Constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government: Shah Mahmood Qureshi
It is the constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it’s the government’s duty to defend it: Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi in National Assembly
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Apr 09, 2022 11:23 AM IST
There should be discussion on “international conspiracy” issue: Speaker Asad Qaiser
There should also be a discussion on the issue of “international conspiracy” today: Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser
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Apr 09, 2022 11:20 AM IST
Shahbaz Sharif urges Speaker to carry out proceedings as per Pak SC order
I hope you (Speaker) will carry out today’s proceedings of the House as per the Supreme Court order. I urge you to stand for the Constitution and law. You must catch this moment with your conviction: Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition in Pakistan National Assembly
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Apr 09, 2022 11:15 AM IST
Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi present in the National Assembly
Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi present in the National Assembly
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Apr 09, 2022 11:10 AM IST
Pakistan National Assembly meets in Islamabad to vote on no-confidence motion
Pakistan National Assembly meets in Islamabad to vote on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan
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Apr 09, 2022 10:48 AM IST
Voting on no-trust motion can shift to next week, reports Pak’s Geo News
Voting on no-trust motion can shift to next week, says federal minister for information and law Fawad Chaudhry: Pakistan’s Geo News
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Apr 09, 2022 10:44 AM IST
Security deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad
Security deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad on the day of no-confidence vote against PM Imran Khan
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Apr 09, 2022 10:39 AM IST
Leave Pakistan & move to India if you like it so much: Maryam Nawaz to Imran Khan
After Imran Khan had praised India during his address on Friday, former Pakistan Prime Minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz told him to leave Pakistan and move to India.
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Apr 09, 2022 10:23 AM IST
Will not tolerate a foreign government, says Imran Khan
Pakistan Prime Minister Iran Khan while addressing the nation on Friday said that he will not tolerate the installation of a “foreign government” in Pakistan. He asserted that he will turn to the public for support if such a thing happens.
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Apr 09, 2022 10:14 AM IST
Members of national assembly begin to arrive at Parliament house: Pak media
Members of the National Assembly have started to arrive at Parliament House ahead of the no-trust vote following the Supreme Court order, reports Pakistani media
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Apr 09, 2022 10:11 AM IST
Pakistan national assembly expected to begin at 11 am IST
Pakistan national assembly session of no-trust vote against Imran Khan is expected to start at 11 am IST.
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Apr 09, 2022 09:59 AM IST
No superpower can dictate terms to India: Imran Khan
A day after Pakistan Supreme Court set aside the national assembly deputy speaker’s ruling on a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the Pakistan prime minister lauded India as “khuddar qaum” (self-respecting people), saying no superpower can dictate terms to the neighbouring country.
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Apr 09, 2022 09:30 AM IST
Imran Khan to face no-trust vote today
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan is set to face the no-trust vote today.