The Brief, No 21
10 April 2022
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has suffered a vote of no confidence.
The passing of the motion on Saturday came after the country's Supreme Court ruled the cricket star turned politician "acted unconstitutionally in previously blocking the process and dissolving parliament."
Imran Khan has blamed the US for forcing "a regime change" in Pakistan because of his foreign policy.
Mr. Khan visited Russia on 24 February 2022 hours after Russia invaded Ukraine.
He has also not enjoyed cordial relationship with the powerful Chief of the Army Staff, Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The tenure of the Chief of Army Staff will expire in Nov 2022. It is significant as his replacement will now be the responsibility of the opposition, if indeed it survives till November 2022.
Imran Khan has taken some controversial positions whilst Prime Minister of Pakistan, including his increased support of Mohamed Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia amidst global condemnation of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.
What are the repercussions of his exit:
He is likely to mobilise his supporters to rolling mass protests in Pakistan. He is certainly not going to make the work of the opposition easy.
He leaves behind an ailing and stagnating economy. He is likely to shift blame to the opposition as the economic condition further deteriorates.
His objective as the opposition henceforth will be to push for early elections.
What is significant though is that the appointment of the Chief of Army of Staff will now be the responsibility of the opposition not Imran Khan.
The leader of the opposition, Mr. Shehbaz Sherif is likely to be elected the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Afrasid is available for analysis and commentary