Embattled Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan may resign at a public rally in Islamabad on Sunday, amid chances of his arrest in the foreign funding case.
According to sources, PM Imran Khan is likely to announce early elections and ask for a caretaker government ahead of his no-confidence motion in parliament.
The military of Pakistan has lost trust in him because of his alleged attempts to divide the army through a social media campaign and deliberately delaying in tenure extension of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Past Wednesday, Prime minister Imran Khan had said he will not resign at any cost and claimed to have a surprise up his sleeve for his opposition and things escalated further when at least three allies of the ruling coalition had indicated to vote against his government during the no-confidence motion.
No Confidence Motion
On 8th March, around 100 lawmakers from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) submitted the no-confidence motion before the National Assembly Secretariat, alleging PM Imran Khan-led Tehreek-e-Insaaf government is responsible for the economic crisis and the spiraling inflation in the country.
In 342 members National assembly, Prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI needs at least 172 members on its side to remain in the government.
Around two dozen dissident lawmakers of Ruiling PTI have come out in the open ahead of the voting against PM Imran Khan, with the government accusing the opposition of horse-trading.
Impounding pressure
On Friday, the Pakistan National Assembly’s crucial session on the no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan was adjourned without tabling of the resolution amid vociferous protests from opposition lawmakers.
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said the session was adjourned till 4 pm on March 28Th due to the demise of Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Khayal Zaman.
Several prominent oppositions members, including the leader of the opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and co-chair Asif Ali Zardari were in the house to participate in the much-anticipated session.
The speaker Asad Qaiser who happens to be from Tehreek-e-Insaf said the decision on taking up the no-confidence motion would be taken in the next session.
Speaker Asad Qaiser further added the voting on the resolution should be held at least three to seven days after it has been laid before the National Assembly, according to rules.
The Foreign Funding Case
According to the report submitted before the Election Commission of Pakistan, PM Imran Khan’s PTI received foreign funding worth 7.3 million dollars, out of which 2.1 million dollars was from one offshore company alone.
The illegal money received in cash or cheques amounts to Rs. 85 crores including Rs. 25.61 million collected in cash in the PTI’s Chairman’s office.
In addition, GBP 94,616 and 27,260 Euros were received from prohibited or foreign sources.
The facts concealed from the ECP by the PTI included the concealment of dozens of bank accounts maintained in Pakistan and abroad.
Not only this, The Dawn reported illegal funding from 349 foreign companies with 88 individuals of foreign origin donation.
From the International Front
From the international font, Prime minister Imran Khan has alienated himself from the west by criticizing the US as if to appease his handlers in China.
His poorly timed visit to Moscow especially when President Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24 was perhaps the last straw.
The economy of Pakistan is crippled under foreign debt with a pathetic USD 15 billion as foreign reserves, with the dwindling currency Pakistan owes one-fifth of its external debt to iron brother China.
Even if China has agreed to roll over USD 4.2 billion debt to Pakistan this week, countries like Sri Lanka are under the vice grip of Beijing which doesn’t even believe in free meals to even client states.
The Ultimatum
PM Imran Khan will try to showcase people’s power in his support at the Islamabad rally today against the electoral numbers odd his government faces in the national assembly.
PM Imran Khan has termed March 27th as a decisive day in Pakistan’s history where the public will stand up against the opposition for “looting and plundering the country”.
While PM Imran Khan may call for snap polls to cash in on sympathetic voters, the Pakistan Constitution does not allow for the incumbent PM to be the caretaker for the next polls.
Published By :- Shubham Agarwal
Edited By :-Kritika Kashyap
