Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ousted in no-trust vote
The Hindu
Opposition wins 174 votes in the 342-member National Assembly; Mr. Khan is the first Pakistan Prime Minister to be voted out through a no-confidence motion
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan lost a crucial no-trust vote in the National Assembly past midnight on Saturday, becoming the first Premier in the country’s history to be removed through a no-confidence motion.
Mr. Khan, 69, was not present in the Lower House at the time of voting. His party lawmakers staged a walkout.
The joint Opposition — a rainbow of socialist, liberal and radically religious parties — secured the support of 174 members in the 342-member National Assembly, more than the needed strength of 172 to oust the prime minister on a day full of drama and multiple adjournments of the Lower House.
No Prime Minister in Pakistan's history was ever ousted through a no-confidence motion. Mr. Khan is the first Premier whose fate was decided through a trust vote.
Also, no Pakistani Prime Minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office.
The Opposition had filed the no-confidence motion on March 8, setting a set of events leading to the day of voting and rise in the tension due to Mr. Khan’s insistence that he was being targeted as part of a “foreign conspiracy” with the collaboration of top Opposition leaders.
Mr. Khan, who came to power in 2018 with promises to create a ‘Naya Pakistan’, was dogged by claims of economic mismanagement as his Government battled depleting foreign exchange reserves and double-digit inflation.
Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament to ban children younger than 16 from social media.
Florida man arrested for plotting to bomb New York Stock Exchange to "reboot" U.S. government, detained for trial.
Apple asked a federal judge to dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against the iPhone maker.
The Sri Lankan parliamentary elections have, more or less, cleansed the 225-member Parliament, purging the country’s arrogant old guard
Trump appoints Whitaker as NATO ambassador despite lack of foreign policy experience, raising concerns about U.S. representation within alliance.
Trump appoints Whitaker as NATO ambassador despite lack of foreign policy experience, raising concerns about U.S. representation within alliance.
U.N. Security Council votes 14-1 for ceasefire resolution, U.S. veto prevents adoption due to hostage release demand.
Bangladesh interim government cancels passports of 22 security officials under investigation for abductions during previous presidency.
U.S. policy shift allowing Kyiv to use ATACMS missiles sparks furious response from Moscow, risking major war.
Taliban authorities are removing "un-Islamic" and anti-government literature from circulation by checking imported books and distributing lists of banned titles.
President Biden approves Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russia, while Trump criticizes Ukraine aid.