As it happened: Pakistan Supreme Court adjourns hearing on dissolution until Monday afternoon
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Pakistan political crisis:
- No-confidence motion against Pak PM Imran Khan dismissed.
- Pakistan President dissolves Parliament.
- PM Imran Khan in a dramatic TV appearance from PM House says he urged the President to dissolve Pak assemblies.
Follow all updates on WION on Pakistan's political crisis as it plays out.
Pakistan Political crisis continues as Supreme Court takes Suo Moto notice of assembly dissolution
Pakistan Opposition leader Khawaja Asif in an exclusive conversation with WION
SC proceedings adjourned until tomorrow afternoon after issuing notices
Pakistan's Supreme Court will to hear arguments on the parliament dissolution on Monday.
"This is an urgent matter. The case is fixed for tomorrow. Notices are issued to all political parties and state functionaries," said Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
Supreme Court issues notice to to AG to explain constitutional position for invoking article 5
Pakistan Supreme Court issues notice to Attorney-General Khalid Jawed Khan to explain constitutional position for invoking article 5 of the constitution under which Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri dismissed the opposition’s motion of no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister.
Pakistan cabinet dissolved, but Imran will continue as PM
Pakistan's former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday said the Federal Cabinet has been dissolved, but Prime Minister Imran Khan will continue his duties under Article 224 of the Constitution, Dunya News reported.
Hussain however did not give any further details.
Opposition in Pakistan to move Supreme Court against ruling by Deputy Speaker
"Imran Khan will save Pakistan", slogans raised outside Pakistan parliament shortly after it was dissolved.
#WATCH | Islamabad: "Imran Khan will save Pakistan...Whoever is America's friend is a traitor," sloganeering underway outside Pakistan Parliament after the National Assembly of Pakistan was dissolved, this afternoon pic.twitter.com/eHnWNuwqEm
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2022
'Im the dim': How Pakistan PM Imran Khan turned out to be a terrible caricature of the champion cricketer
Many years ago, author Salman Rushdie quipped of cricketer-turned-politician and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, "Back in the day, when he was a playboy in London, the most common nickname for him was 'Im the Dim.'"
Dim, as in dimwitted, and a little slow in the head.
Pakistan Army denies involvement in no-confidence motion
Pakistan's Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar Sunday told Geo News that the military has nothing to do with what happened today at the National Assembly.
Replying to a question regarding the consent of the Army in the political developments of the day, the DG ISPR bluntly denied any sort of involvement.
Pakistan Supreme Court opened a short while ago, PPP representatives also reached the top court
Now, Pak's opposition choses own speaker, holds parallel session in parliament
The opposition had earlier announced to challenge the ruling of the Speaker in the Supreme Court.
The opposition was also looking to organise a sit-in protest inside the parliament premises until the issue is resolved.
Pak Parliament, cabinet dissolved as no-trust session against PM Imran Khan junked
Fawad Choudhury, information minister in the government who earlier slammed in parliament the no-trust move as a "foreign conspiracy", tweeted that Khan would continue as prime minister till elections are held, adding that the cabinet was dissolved.
"The Prime Minister will continue his duties under Article 224 of the Constitution. The Cabinet has been dissolved," he tweeted.
Opposition members shouted slogans inside the parliament, while supporters of Khan were arrested and removed from the Parliament House premises.
'Prepare for elections': Imran's dramatic TV speech amid no-confidence motion
Imran Khan addressed the nation from PM's house in Islamabad as the National Assembly was in session.
The Pakistan Prime Minister said, "I have sent advice to the President to dissolve the Assembly."
Pakistan President Arif Alvi approved the dissolution of Parliament on Sunday after the no-trust vote against PM Imran Khan was dismissed.
In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistan's deputy Speaker on Sunday dismissed the no-trust motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan amid uproar in Parliament
PM Imran Khan addressed the nation as the National Assembly was in session. The Pakistan Prime Minister said, "I have sent advice to the President to dissolve assembly."
The Pakistan Prime Minister said the deputy Speaker had "rejected the attempt of changing the regime and the foreign conspiracy".
In a short address to the nation, Imran said: "I want to say, do not worry. God is watching over Pakistan."
Pakistan's deputy Speaker suspended Parliament. No voting to take place today.
Pakistan Parliament's no-confidence session is underway.
Fawad Chaudhury in his opening address said, "loyalty to the state is basic duty of every citizens."
Parliament session on no-confidence motion begins. Reports claim Deputy Speaker will preside over the House with Asad Qaiser not present. Earlier, Pakistan lawmakers were seen entering the National Assembly.
Pakistan lawmakers arrive in National Assembly. Speaker Asad Qaiser also arrives in Parliament ahead of the no-confidence vote against PM Imran Khan's government.
However, PM Imran Khan is yet to arrive in Parliament.
Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rasheed speaking to WION said: "Today is the first day whosoever is going to win or loose, it is a very hard time for democrary."
"Imran Khan will emerge as most popular leader, I can't say if he will survive or not but he will emerge as most popular leader," he asserted.
Meanwhile, reports say Prime Minister Imran Khan is yet to arrive in Parliament with the session currently delayed. There has been no official reason for the delay as the country awaits the final verdict on the no-confidence motion.
Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rasheed speaking to WION said: "Today is the first day whosoever is going to win or loose, it is a very hard time for democrary."
"Imran Khan will emerge as most popular leader, I can't say if he will survive or not but he will emerge as most popular leader," he asserted.
Pakistan's foreign minister told WION: "Turkish FM has said that we are keeping a watch on every moment of Pak's political development and want the government to complete its term."
"Turkey is a friend which has stood by Pakistan always," he added.
The Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had earlier called the Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The minister said Turkey expressed concern over Pakistan’s political development.
Ahead of the no-confidence vote, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi accused the opposition of trying to destablise the country.
Qureshi said none of the opposition parties have anything in common, adding: "It is a conspiracy against Imran Khan, the people and the nation."
Qureshi appealed to the people to come out and protest peacefully.
"We will play till the last over of the last ball," Qureshi said echoing PM Imran's thoughts.
"No one has the right to interfere in our internal matter," Qureshi said.
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Maryam Aurangzeb said: "Imran is a PM for some moments now."
Ahead of the crucial no-confidence vote against Pakistan PM Imran Khan's government, opposition leaders are meeting with 174 members reportedly in attendance.
Pakistan Parliament no-confidence procedure: Voting bells, open counting and final verdict
As the no-confidence motion against Pakistan PM Imran Khan's government begins in Parliament, the opposition has already fired the first shot as it moved a no-confidence resolution against Speaker Asad Qaiser in the National Assembly.
Ahead of the no-confidence vote against Imran Khan's government, Pakistan's opposition on Sunday moved a resolution for the removal of Speaker Asad Qaiser in the National Assembly.
The Pakistan opposition has accused the Speaker of partisan approach during the no-confidence motion process.
Former Pakistan PM Pakistan Muslim League(N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi speaking exclusively to WION said: "Voting will take place, it is a constitutional requirement. Today is the last day of voting. The Speaker if he does not hold the vote for any reason today, he is liable for prosecution under the constitution."
Political tensions have reached a boiling point in Pakistan. In less than three hours from now, a vote of no-confidence will be held in the lower house of Pakistani parliament.
— WION (@WIONews) April 3, 2022
Will @ImranKhanPTI be able to survive no-confidence vote?@AnasMallick tells you more pic.twitter.com/RHv3LaCi5e
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Islamabad. Pakistan authorities have declared a Red Zone as hundreds of security personnel have been deployed.
Ahead of the no-confidence motion against Pakistan PM Imran Khan, reports claim governor of Pakistan's Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has been removed from his post.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said: "According to the Constitution, the deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly will be the acting governor."
"We are fighting for truth & patriotism against falsehood & treason," says Pakistan PM Imran Khan as he battles no-confidence vote in Parliament today.
In Karbala, facing an enemy that far outnumbered them, Imam Hussain AS, his family & followers laid down their lives to show people the difference between Haq (right/truth) & Baatil (falsehood). Today, we are fighting for truth & patriotism against falsehood & treason.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 2, 2022
Watch: Is public support enough for Imran Khan to retain power?
Ahead of the no-confidence vote, Pak PM Imran Khan in a tweet said all PTI MPAs in Punjab should vote for Pervez Elahi in the CM Punjab election on Sunday.
All PTI MPAs in Punjab must ensure they vote for Ch Pervez Elahi in the CM Punjab election tomorrow. Any PTI MPA going against party direction, including abstaining from vote, will be disqualified and will face strict disciplinary action.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 2, 2022
"Any PTI MPA going against party direction, including abstaining from vote, will be disqualified and will face strict disciplinary action," the Pakistan prime minister said.
Hundreds of PTI workers protested in Karachi on Saturday in a show of support for Prime Minister Imran Khan who faces a vote of no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on Sunday.
Pakistan authorities have imposed tight security in Islamabad with the crucial no-confidence set to take place today.
Ahead of the crucial no-confidence vote on Sunday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the country's youth to stage "peaceful protests".
"You don't have to sit silently, if you stay quiet, you will be on the side of the bad. I want you to protest and speak up against this conspiracy - not for me but for your future," the Pakistan prime minister told the youth.
Last over begins: Will Imran Khan deliver on no-confidence vote day?
Pakistan's National Assembly has 342 members. Imran Khan needs support from at least 172 members to save the coalition government led by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Watch: Clock ticking for Pakistan PM Imran Khan
No-confidence vote: MQM-P breaks alliance with PTI; Bilawal attacks PM Imran
Amid discussions on the no-confidence motion against Pakistan PM Imran Khan's government in Parliament, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan(MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui called for Pakistan's prime minister's resignation.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan's life in danger as there was a plot to assassinate him, claims PTI leader
Amid a political crisis in Pakistan, a senior leader in the country claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan's life is in danger.
While speaking to a Pakistani media outlet, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart Faisal Vawda said that a conspiracy has been hatched to assassinate PM Khan.
Imran Khan is no Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: Ex-wife Reham Khan slams PM
Reham Khan, senior journalist and ex-wife of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, said on Wednesday that Pakistan premier's political survival from the present crisis was 'impossible'.
US says no letter sent to Pakistan as PM Imran Khan discloses contents of 'threat letter'
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan recently, while speaking at a rally in the country's capital Islamabad, said that besides internal politics, a "foreign conspiracy" was also plotting his removal from power as he faces a no-confidence vote.
Official protest lodged with US embassy, PM Imran Khan tells Pakistani media
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that Pakistan government had handed official protest to US embassy over what he called USA's interference in the country's internal affairs.
Ahead of no-confidence motion, Pak PM Imran Khan claims his life is in danger
As a no-confidence motion is going to be held in the National Assembly on Sunday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed his "life is in danger" on Friday, an ANI report citing local media said.
I play till the last ball, says Pak PM Imran as he refuses to resign during TV address
During the television address, the Pakistan prime minister said: "Why did I come into politics is what I want to tell the people before anything else."
Watch | Pak PM used the words 'me' and 'mine' 213 times during his speech ahead of vote to oust him
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan used the words 'me' and 'mine as many as 213 times during his speech on Thursday ahead of vote to oust him.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan targets US again, alleges efforts to oust him
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on targetted the US again and said that the country was behind the move to remove him as it wanted a regime change in Pakistan.
Khan told a group of foreign journalists that, "the move to oust me is (a) blatant interference in domestic politics by the United States".