After several weeks of political crisis in Pakistan, Prime Minister, Imran Khan was overthrown on Sunday, by a vote of no confidence in Parliament.
The former cricket star called on his supporters to hold a peaceful protest and said he would “not accept” the new government. Imran Khan is the first Pakistani head of government to fall on a vote of no confidence.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was toppled following several weeks of political crisis. The motion was approved by 174 of the 342 representatives, announced the acting Speaker of the House, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
His successor is expected to be Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League.
Imran Khan rose to power in 2018, after his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), won the parliamentary elections on a populist platform with promises of social reforms, religious conservatism and the fight against corruption.
Since coming to power, Khan’s rhetoric has become more anti-American, and he expressed a desire to move closer to China and Russia.
Pakistan’s powerful military has traditionally controlled foreign and defense policy, but Khan’s public rhetoric had an impact on a number of key central alliances.
Khan tried to avoid the vote by dissolving parliament and calling early elections, but a Supreme Court ruling ordered the vote to go through.
Khan’s options are currently limited, but his call for peaceful street protests may offer him momentum to present his candidacy in upcoming elections.
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