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Pakistan lawmakers have elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country’s new prime minister following the weekend ouster of Imran Khan, who resigned his national assembly seat – along with most of his party members – ahead of the vote. Khan was ousted on Sunday after losing a no-confidence vote, paving the way for an unlikely alliance that faces the same issues which bedevilled the cricket star-turned-politician – a weak economy, rising militancy, and soured relations with the West. Sharif immediately announced a raft of populist measures, including a new minimum wage of 25,000 rupees (around $135), pay rises for civil servants, and development projects in rural areas. He also said that he wanted better relations with neighbour India, but a solution needed to be found for Kashmir – the contested Himalayan territory at the heart of decades of their conflict. For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sharif on his election, and called for “peace and stability in a region free of terror”. Sharif, leader of the centrist Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), was the only candidate for premier after Khan loyalist Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former foreign minister, withdrew and resigned his seat. “It’s a victory of righteousness, and evil has been defeated,” Sharif said in his maiden speech as premier, suggesting no end to what has been a bitter political battle. His first task will be to form a cabinet that will also draw heavily from the centre-left Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), as well as find space for the smaller conservative Jamiat-ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) group. The PPP and PML-N are dynastic parties that have dominated Pakistani politics for decades – usually as bitter rivals – and their relations are sure to fray in the lead-up to the next election, which must be held by October 2023. “History knows there is no ideological convergence among them,” Qureshi said before storming out. The coalition must tackle soaring inflation, a feeble rupee and crippling debt, while militancy is also on the rise – with Pakistan’s Taliban emboldened by the return to power last year of the hardline Islamist group in neighbouring Afghanistan. “The situation is very bad, but I am sure that we will change it with the blessing of Allah and with hard work,” said Sharif. “If we have to save the sinking boat, what we all need is hard work, and unity, unity and unity,” he told parliament. “We are beginning a new era of development today.” The new premier may also rethink Pakistan’s global alignment, which drifted away from Washington under Khan and closer to Russia and China – a vital economic partner. “On the foreign policy front we have to face a lot of debacles. Our strategic partners left us,” he said. He said his government will speed up construction of the $60bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. Pakistan’s stock exchange gained over 3% yesterday on the hope of more stability, while the rupee also strengthened. Sharif is the younger brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and Pakistan media are already speculating the latter may soon return from exile in Britain. The elder Sharif was dismissed in 2017 and later jailed for 10 years by an accountability court on graft charges after revelations from the Panama Papers, but was released to seek medical treatment abroad. The younger Sharif is also mired in graft proceedings. In 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seized nearly two dozen properties belonging to him and his son Hamza, accusing them of money laundering. He was arrested and detained in September 2020, but released six months later on bail for a trial which is still pending. Former prime minister Khan tried everything to stay in power after losing his majority in parliament – including dissolving the assembly and calling a fresh election. However, the Supreme Court deemed all his actions illegal and ordered them to reconvene and vote. Khan insists he has been the victim of a “regime change” conspiracy involving Washington and his opponents, and has vowed to take his fight to the streets in the hope of forcing an early election. Sharif promised an investigation into Khan’s allegations. “If an iota of evidence is provided against us, I will immediately resign,” he told parliament. The mass resignations lawmakers of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) signal that the former prime minister intends to make good a threat to disrupt the new administration and take his fight to the streets, and he called again for mass protests across the country. “Whether his agitation ability has grown or shrunk in last few weeks remains to be seen,” said analyst Mosharaf Zaidi. No elected prime minister has completed a full term in Pakistan since it won independence from colonial power Great Britain in 1947, though Khan is the first to be removed by a no-confidence vote. The military has ruled the country for almost half its nearly 75-year history.

Pakistan lawmakers on Monday elected Shehbaz Sharif as the country's new prime minister following the weekend ouster of Imran Khan, who resigned his national assembly seat -- along with most of his party members -- ahead of the vote. "Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has been elected as prime minister," said acting speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq after 174 votes were cast in the 342-seat assembly. Sharif, 70, led an opposition alliance that forced a no-confidence vote on Khan through the national assembly following weeks of political turmoil in the nuclear-armed nation of 220 million people. Khan loyalist and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi withdrew his candidacy for the position shortly before the vote began and said he was quitting the assembly in protest, along with most Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party members. After being formally sworn in, Sharif's first task will be to form a cabinet drawn from his centrist Pakistan Muslim League-N party, the centre-left Pakistan Peoples Party, and the smaller conservative Jamiat-ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) group.

Shehbaz Sharif was set Monday to become Pakistan's new prime minister, but ousted premier Imran Khan and most of his party's lawmakers resigned their seats in the national assembly immediately before voting started. Khan was dismissed Sunday after losing a no-confidence vote, paving the way for an opposition alliance that faces the same issues which bedevilled the cricket star-turned-politician. Sharif, leader of the centrist Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) is certain to be chosen after Khan loyalist Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former foreign minister, withdrew his candidacy and resigned his seat. "I announced a boycott of the election," Qureshi said. "We announce we (the party lawmakers) will submit our resignations. We reject becoming a part of this illegitimate process." Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party had 155 lawmakers in the 342-seat chamber, although more than a dozen had said they would cross the floor ahead of Sunday's no-confidence vote. Sharif's first task will be to form a cabinet that will also draw heavily from the centre-left Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), as well as find space for the smaller conservative Jamiat-ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) group.   - Bitter rivals -   The PPP and PML-N are dynastic parties that have dominated Pakistani politics for decades -- usually as bitter rivals -- but their relations are sure to fray in the lead-up to the next election, which must be held by October 2023. They need to tackle soaring inflation, a feeble rupee and crippling debt, while militancy is also on the rise -- with Pakistan's Taliban emboldened by the return to power last year of the hardline Islamist group in neighbouring Afghanistan. Shehbaz Sharif is the younger brother of disgraced three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and Pakistan media are already speculating the latter may soon return from exile in Britain. The elder Sharif was dismissed in 2017 and later jailed for 10 years by an accountability court on graft charges after revelations from the Panama Papers, but was released to seek medical treatment abroad. The younger Sharif is also mired in graft proceedings. In 2019, the National Accountability Bureau seized nearly two dozen properties belonging to him and his son Hamza, accusing them of money laundering. He was arrested and detained in September 2020, but released six months later on bail for a trial which is still pending. A seasoned politician in his own right, Sharif, 70, jointly inherited the family's steel business as a young man and was first elected to provincial office in 1988. He is known as a tough administrator, feared for his frequent "surprise visits" to government institutions as well as a penchant for quoting revolutionary poetry.   - Defeat not taken well -   No prime minister has ever served a full term in Pakistan, but Khan is the first to lose office via a vote of no-confidence -- a defeat he has not taken well. He tried everything to stay in power after losing his majority in parliament -- including dissolving the assembly and calling a fresh election. But the Supreme Court deemed all his actions illegal and ordered them to reconvene and vote. Khan insists he has been the victim of a "regime change" conspiracy involving Washington, and has vowed to take his fight to the streets in the hope of forcing an early election. Political analyst Talat Masood said Khan appears to want to "create problems" for the next government.  "From what he has been saying, he seems to want to... pursue a kind of a policy of trying to sort of rebel rather (than) make things better for the country and society," Masood, a former general, told AFP.  Publicly, the military appears to be keeping out of the current fray, but there have been four coups since independence in 1947, and Pakistan has spent more than three decades under army rule. The new partnership will offer local artists the platform to showcase their talent and creative artworks Mondrian Doha, Doha’s leading luxury hotel that celebrates fashion, art, culture, and music, collaborated with Fire Station on their ‘Artists in Residence’ programme for a cultural initiative dedicated to supporting Qatar’s eclectic art scene. The collaboration was officially inaugurated through an art exhibition titled “Metaphoric growth” and aims to promote the artistic works of Qatar talents.   The launch of the first of a series of exhibition was held at Mondrian Doha’s Frozen Forest Lobby Lounge on Wednesday, 6th April in attendance by representatives from Fire Station and Mondrian Doha as well as members of local media and influencers.  The initiative comes as part of Mondrian’s continuous efforts to empower local artists, and to support the emerging talents participating in Fire Station’s ‘Artists in Residence’ programme in offering them an exhibition space to showcase their creative works to the community. Commenting on the launch, Mikel Ibrahim, General Manager of Mondrian Doha, said: “Art and design have always been an integral part of Mondrian’s DNA. Inspired by Marcel Wanders ingenious, sophisticated, and original architecture and design, we naturally draw inspiration from contemporary art, heritage, fashion, and pop culture. We are proud to collaborate with Fire Station, who are in harmony with our bold and creative identity and share our commitment to empowering local talents to further create, flourish and grow.” Khalifa Al Obaidly, Director of Fire Station Artists in Residence, commented: “We are excited to collaborate with Mondrian Doha to inspire local artists and nurture new talent as part of the Fire Station’s annual ‘Artists in Residence’ programme. This collaboration aligns with the Fire Station’s aim to provide a platform that will act as a springboard for established and aspiring artists to explore and showcase their creative talent to Qatar and the world.” The exhibition “Metaphoric Growth” comprises artworks by Fatima Javed, the first Fire Station artist to display her artwork at Mondrian Doha. Her stoneware paper clay sculptures reflect the transformational process that every individual goes through, and encapsulates the emotional transitions. Fatima Javed commented saying: “I am delighted to have my sculptures exhibited at Mondrian Doha in collaboration with Fire Station. Such cultural collaboration provides a significant platform for artists to showcase their artworks to the wider community and art enthusiasts.” Fatima continued: “Metaphoric Growth" showcases stoneware paper clay sculptures that metaphorically reflect the transitional period of my emotions from hardship to stability expressing growth and perseverance. I am grateful for such opportunity that will enable me to grow and flourish pushing the boundaries for creativity and experimenting”. The artworks will be displayed at Ella Mia from 6th April to 21st April 2022 from sunset till 11:00pm providing an opportunity for the community and art fans to witness vibrant art talents.  

• Imran Khan: has warned that he would not accept “an imported government”. Imran Khan was dismissed yesterday as prime minister after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament following weeks of political turmoil. This followed a nearly 14-hour stand-off between the opposition and Khan’s ruling party that started yesterday morning. Acting Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said 174 lawmakers had voted in favour of the motion, “consequently the vote of no confidence has passed”. There were just a few legislators of Khan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party present for the process. No prime mister has ever served a full term in Pakistan, but Khan is the first to lose office through a vote of no confidence. It was not immediately clear when the assembly will choose a new premier but, opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was almost certain to be picked to lead the nuclear-armed nation of 220mn people after weeks of high political drama. Khan, 69, tried everything he could to stay in power – including dissolving parliament and calling a fresh election – but the Supreme Court deemed all his actions illegal last week, and ordered the assembly to reconvene and vote. The voting came after the country’s powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa met Khan, two sources said, as criticism mounted over the delay in the parliamentary process. Asad Qaisar, a PTI member, had adjourned the house three times yesterday, before announcing his resignation as speaker, heightening the drama in the chamber. “The country’s interests must be the priority,” he said. Khan’s allies blocked the no-confidence motion last week and dissolved the lower house of parliament, prompting the country’s Supreme Court to intervene and allow the vote to go through. The prime minister’s supporters claim there is a foreign conspiracy to oust him. Khan surged to power in 2018, but recently lost his parliamentary majority when allies quit his coalition government. Opposition parties say he has failed to revive an economy battered by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic or fulfil promises to make Pakistan a corruption-free, prosperous nation respected on the world stage. The cricket star turned politician has vowed to “struggle” against any move to replace him. The editor-in-chief of the Friday Times Najam Sethi said that Khan had seemed bent on defying the orders of the Supreme Court. “That means he is either on a politically suicidal path or is being egged on to continue resistance in the expectation of last minute support/intervention from elements in the Miltablishment,” he said, referring to the military. The opposition and some analysts say Khan has fallen out with the military, a charge he and the military deny. The army has ruled the state for half its 75-year post-colonial history. Khan, who enjoyed widespread popular support when he took office, said late on Friday that he was disappointed with the top court ruling but accepted it. However, he warned that he would not recognise any opposition government that replaced him. “I will not accept an imported government,” he told the nation in a late-night address, suggesting the move to oust him was part of a foreign conspiracy and calling for peaceful protests today. “I’m ready for a struggle.”

Imran Khan was dismissed Sunday as Pakistan prime minister after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament following weeks of political turmoil. Acting speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said 174 lawmakers had voted in favour of the motion, "consequently the vote of no confidence has passed". No prime mister has ever served a full term in Pakistan, but Khan is the first to lose office through a vote of no confidence. It was not immediately clear when the assembly will choose a new premier but, opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was almost certain to be picked to lead the nuclear-armed nation of 220 million people after weeks of high political drama. Khan, 69, tried everything he could to stay in power -- including dissolving parliament and calling a fresh election -- but the Supreme Court deemed all his actions illegal last week, and ordered the assembly to reconvene and vote.

Pakistan lawmakers clashed angrily in the national assembly Saturday ahead of a no-confidence vote on Prime Minister Imran Khan that will likely see him booted from office. The speaker adjourned proceedings without giving a reason after just 30 rowdy minutes, ordering lawmakers to return in the afternoon. Khan, who was not present, has lost his majority in the 342-seat assembly through defections by coalition partners and members of his own party, and the opposition need just 172 votes to dismiss him. There is no vote for a new premier on the agenda, but that could change and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif is the anointed candidate. Tempers rose as Shehbaz insisted a vote be held immediately -- as ordered by the Supreme Court Thursday -- but Khan loyalists demanded discussion first on their leader's claims there had been foreign interference in the process. "You will run proceedings of the house under the order of the Supreme Court," said a furious Shehbaz, wagging his finger. "Parliament is going to write a new history. Today, the parliament is going to defeat a... prime minister." "We intend to face it in accordance with law and constitution," replied Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, adding: "It is my duty to defend the motion." Khan, 69, said late Friday he had accepted a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the no-confidence vote, but insisted he was victim of a "regime change" conspiracy involving the United States. The former international cricket star said he would not cooperate with any incoming administration and called on his supporters to take to the streets.   - Security blanket -   A heavy security blanket was thrown over the capital Saturday, with thousands of police on the streets and a ring of steel containers blocking access to the government enclave. The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Khan acted illegally by dissolving parliament and calling fresh elections after the deputy speaker of the national assembly -- a loyalist -- refused to allow an earlier no-confidence vote because of "foreign interference". Khan said the PML-N and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) -- two normally feuding dynastic groups who joined forces to oust him -- had conspired with Washington to bring the no-confidence vote because of his opposition to US foreign policy, particularly in Muslim nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. With reference to the defections, he also accused the opposition of buying support in the assembly with "open horse-trading... selling of lawmakers like goats and sheep". "I was disappointed with the Supreme Court decision but I want to make it clear that I respect the Supreme Court and Pakistan's judiciary," he said. "There is a conspiracy from abroad," Khan said. "This is a very serious allegation... that a foreign country conspired to topple an entire government." Washington has denied any involvement. Whoever takes over will still have to deal with the issues that bedevilled Khan -- soaring inflation, a feeble rupee and crippling debt. Militancy is also on the rise, with Pakistan's Taliban emboldened by the return to power last year of the hardline Islamist group in neighbouring Afghanistan.   - 'Vindictive probes' -   How long the next government lasts is also a matter of speculation. The opposition said previously they wanted an early election -- which must be called by October next year -- but taking power gives them the opportunity to set their own agenda and end a string of probes they said Khan launched vindictively against them. Local media quoted an election commission official as saying it would take them at least seven months to prepare for a national vote. Pakistan has been wracked by political crises for much of its 75-year existence, and no prime minister has ever seen out a full term. Publicly the military appears to be keeping out of the current fray, but there have been four coups since independence in 1947 and the country has spent more than three decades under army rule.

• PM alleges ‘conspiracy’ but accepts court ruling on confidence vote Prime Minister Imran Khan said yesterday that he would not recognise an opposition government if it succeeded in an attempt to oust him, the latest twist in a political crisis engulfing the nuclear-armed nation. The country’s parliament will convene today to vote on Khan as prime minister, an official notice said yesterday, potentially cutting short his term as leader. The country’s top court ruled late on Thursday that Khan must face the no-confidence vote, which he is widely expected to lose, meaning he would be ousted from office. A session of the lower house of parliament has been called for 10.30am today, the speaker’s office said. The vote, brought by the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, is the fourth point on the agenda. The Supreme Court ruling said that Khan acted illegally by dissolving parliament and calling fresh elections after the deputy speaker of the national assembly – a loyalist – refused to allow an earlier no-confidence vote because of “foreign interference”. In a 40-minute address to the nation touching on familiar themes, Khan railed against the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PLM-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), two normally feuding dynastic groups who joined forces to oust Khan and his upstart Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI). With his majority gone, Khan accused the opposition of buying support in the assembly with “open horse-trading ... selling of lawmakers like goats and sheep”. The prime minister said they had conspired with Washington to bring the no-confidence vote because of his opposition to US foreign policy – particularly in Muslim nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. “I was disappointed with the Supreme Court decision but I want to make it clear that I respect the Supreme Court and Pakistan’s judiciary,” Khan said. However, he added that the court should also have examined the reason for the first vote being rejected. “There is a conspiracy from abroad,” the 69-year-old Khan said. “This is a very serious allegation ... that a foreign country conspired to topple an entire government.” Washington has denied any involvement. Yesterday constitutionalists praised the Supreme Court verdict, calling it an end to the so-called “doctrine of necessity” that has seen courts throughout Pakistan’s history rule against clear illegality, but accept the consequences as being good for the country. PML-N leader Sharif, brother of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif and likely to replace Khan, said the decision “has saved Pakistan and the constitution”. “Democracy is the best revenge,” tweeted PPP leader Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, the scion of another political dynasty. His parents are assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari. A former cricket star who took office in 2018, Khan said he would not recognise any opposition government that replaced him. “I will not accept an imported government,” he said, calling for peaceful protests tomorrow. “I’m ready for a struggle.” The crisis has threatened political and economic stability in the country of 220mn people, where the military has ruled for half its history. If he loses the no-confidence vote, the opposition will put forward a candidate for prime minister. Sharif, the younger brother of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said after the court ruling that the opposition had nominated him to take over should Khan be ousted. “The court decision will end political uncertainty and constitutional crisis to a large extent. This will help restore some confidence in the markets,” Mohamed Sohail of Karachi-based Topline Securities told Reuters. “However economic challenges remain and it will be interesting to see how a new set-up takes bold steps to put things in order.” The opposition has said it wants early elections but only after delivering Khan a political defeat and passing legislation that it says is needed to ensure the next polls are free and fair. The election commission has said the earliest it can hold elections is in October, which means any new government will have to deal with pressing economic issues before that. Political analyst Hasan Askari told AFP that any new government will still have to deal with the underlying issues. “Conflict and confrontation will persist ... the prospects of political harmony and long-term stability are minimal,” he said. Pakistan has been wracked by political crises for much of its 75-year existence, and no prime minister has ever seen out a full term. Publicly the military appears to be keeping out of the current fray, but there have been four coups since independence in 1947 and the country has spent more than three decades under army rule.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s move to dissolve parliament was unconstitutional and ordered lawmakers to return, a decision that could spell the end of his premiership as soon as today. The former cricket star had moved to break up the lower chamber ahead of a no-confidence vote against him that he had looked destined to lose. The apex court said in its judgment that the vote should now go ahead. “The advice tendered by the Prime Minister on or about 03.04.2022 to the President to dissolve the Assembly was contrary to the Constitution and of no legal effect,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said, as he read out a 13-point order to a packed courtroom. “The national assembly continues to remain in session,” the Supreme Court said after hearing four days of argument on the matter. The court’s judgment was broader than expected after the chief justice said earlier this week that they would only rule on the legality of the no-confidence motion being blocked. The court said that the decision was unanimous. Dozens of opposition members outside the imposing white stone building shouted in jubilation when the unanimous ruling was announced. Angry Khan supporters chanted anti-American slogans in reply as police in riot gear separated the sides. The constitutional crisis has threatened economic and social stability in the nuclear-armed nation of 220mn people, with the rupee currency hitting all-time lows earlier yesterday and foreign exchange reserves tumbling. When opposition parties united against Khan last week to push for the no-confidence motion, the deputy speaker of parliament, a member of Khan’s party, threw out the motion, ruling it was part of a foreign conspiracy and unconstitutional. Khan then dissolved parliament. The ruling yesterday in the capital Islamabad could spell the premature end of Khan’s tenure in a country where no elected leader has finished their full term in office. Khan, who steered Pakistan to cricket World Cup victory in 1992, came to power in 2018 after rallying the country behind his vision of a corruption-free, prosperous nation respected on the world stage. However, the firebrand nationalist’s fame and charisma may not be enough to keep him in power. The prime minister He could not deliver on all of his promises and failed to avert an economic decline partly sparked by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Khan called a cabinet meeting today, when he also planned to address the nation. “My message to our nation is I have always & will continue to fight for Pak till the last ball,” he tweeted. If Khan were to lose the no-confidence vote, the opposition could nominate its own prime minister and hold power until August 2023, by which date fresh elections have to be held. Shehbaz Sharif, a member of the powerful Sharif political dynasty, said after the court ruling that allies in the opposition had nominated him to take over should Khan be ousted. Sharif, head of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) said the court’s decision “has saved Pakistan and the constitution of Pakistan”. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Zardari Bhutto, who had joined forces with Sharif to oust Khan, tweeted: “Democracy is the best revenge.” The opposition has said it wants early elections, but only after delivering a political defeat to Khan and passing legislation it says is required to ensure the next polls are free and fair. Pakistan’s election commission said yesterday that the earliest it could hold the ballot was October. Economic policymakers will want to see the crisis resolved as quickly as possible. Pakistan is in the middle of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout which it desperately needs to shore up hard currency reserves. The Pakistan rupee took a battering yesterday as the country awaited the court’s judgment, hitting record lows. In its biggest hike in years, the central bank raised its policy rate by 250 basis points to 12.25% in an emergency meeting. “As (the) dollar continues to soar, a massive economic meltdown is staring the country in the face,” Sharif said in a tweet. The crisis also threatens Pakistan’s relationship with long-time ally the US, who Khan has blamed for being behind a conspiracy to overthrow him. Washington denies this. Some political analysts said the country’s military viewed Khan and his conservative agenda favourably when he won a general election, but that its support has waned. Khan has denied enjoying their backing. The military has stepped in to remove civilian governments and take over on three occasions since Pakistan’s independence in 1947, citing the need to end political uncertainty. The current military leadership says it is not involved in politics, including the current situation.

Pakistan’s top court could rule today on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s move to block an opposition attempt to oust him, a step his critics say is unconstitutional and has touched off political turmoil. Khan, a former cricket star, lost his parliamentary majority last week and had faced a no-confidence vote tabled by the opposition that he was expected to lose on Sunday. But the deputy speaker of parliament, a member of Khan’s party, threw out the motion, ruling it was part of a foreign conspiracy and unconstitutional. Khan then dissolved parliament. The stand-off has thrown the nuclear-armed country of 220mn people, ruled by the military for extended periods since independence in 1947, into a full-blown constitutional crisis. The opposition has challenged the decision to block the vote in the Supreme Court, which began deliberating the case on Monday. Yesterday, lawyers for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party launched their defence. Ali Zafar, a lawyer for President Arif Alvi who is a party ally of Khan, said the court should not involve itself in parliamentary procedure. “My humble submission would be that if your lordships start monitoring parliamentary affairs, there would be no end to that,” he told the panel of five judges. The Supreme Court will reconvene today at around 9:30am (0430 GMT). Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said yesterday he wanted to wrap up the hearings. “Let’s start early from tomorrow to conclude the case,” he said. The court could order parliament to be reconstituted, call for fresh elections, or bar Khan from power if he is found to have violated the constitution. It could also decide that it cannot intervene in parliamentary affairs. Pakistan’s military is facing growing calls from the opposition to weigh in on the legitimacy of Khan’s complaints about a foreign plot against him, which he said was being orchestrated by the United States. Washington dismissed the accusation. Khan, like many Pakistanis, criticised the 20-year-long US intervention in neighbouring Afghanistan, which came to an end in August last year with the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces and the return of the Taliban to power. A senior opposition leader, Maryam Nawaz, said the military should publicly clarify whether it had told a top-level security meeting that the United States had conspired with the opposition to topple his government, as Khan has said it did. “Imran Khan has used the National Security Committee for his political gains,” she said late on Tuesday. An official with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified, told Reuters on Tuesday that security agencies had found no credible evidence to confirm Khan’s complaint of a conspiracy. The Pakistan military’s public relations wing and Khan’s former information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, did not respond to requests from Reuters for comment on the matter. The military has stepped in to remove civilian governments and take over on three occasions, citing the need to end political uncertainty, though the current military command says it is not involved in politics or in the current situation. As the court considers the legality of the political manoeuvring, Khan’s decision to dissolve parliament and call a general election is moving forward with President Alvi asking the Election Commission to think about a date for a vote, which should be within 90 days of the April 3 dissolution. But analysts say the process is not clear because a Supreme Court ruling against Khan would also throw into question his calling of a snap election.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has adjourned without ruling on the legality of political manoeuvres that led Prime Minister Imran Khan to dissolve the national assembly and call fresh elections. The court, which will resume today, must decide if the deputy speaker of the assembly violated the constitution by refusing to allow a no-confidence vote against Khan at the weekend. Had the vote taken place, Khan was certain to have been booted from office, but the move allowed him to get the presidency – a largely ceremonial role held by a loyalist – to dissolve parliament and order an election, which must be held within 90 days. President Arif Alvi upped the ante yesterday by issuing a letter to the opposition, saying that if they did not nominate a candidate for interim prime minister, the process would continue without them. Shehbaz Sharif, who would have replaced Prime Minister Khan had Sunday’s vote taken place, said he would not participate. “The main issue is that the constitution has been abrogated,” he told reporters outside the court. “If we don’t get a remedy then Pakistan will, God forbid, become a banana republic.” Khan has already nominated former chief justice Gulzar Ahmad for the role. Nuclear-armed Pakistan has been wracked by political crises for much of its 75-year existence, and no prime minister has ever seen out a full term. There had been high hopes for Khan when he was elected in 2018 on a promise of sweeping away decades of entrenched corruption and cronyism, but he has struggled to maintain support with soaring inflation, a feeble rupee and crippling debt. The opposition had expected to take power on Sunday after mustering enough support to oust him, but the deputy speaker refused to allow the vote to proceed because of alleged “foreign interference”. Khan said the opposition had gone too far by colluding with the United States for “regime change”. The cricket star turned politician says Western powers want him removed because he will not stand with them against Russia and China, and the issue is sure to ignite any forthcoming election. Washington has denied any interference. Yesterday Prime Minister Khan ramped up the anti-US rhetoric, calling for protests to “send a message to America, and those traitors who are a part of it here, so they should know that we are a free country and will never let this conspiracy succeed”. It is unclear when the court will rule on the issue – or if Khan would even accept its decision – but there is precedent. In 1988, Mohamed Khan Junejo appealed to the court after the assembly was dissolved by then-president General Zia-ul-Haq, who had taken power in a military coup years earlier. It agreed his government had been dissolved unconstitutionally, but ruled that since elections had been announced anyway it was best to move on. In 1993, the court ruled president Ghulam Ishaq Khan had also illegally dissolved the assembly – then with Nawaz Sharif as prime minister. Although the government resumed business, it lasted less than two months before being dissolved again. The Supreme Court is ostensibly independent, but rights activists say previous benches have been used by civilian and military administrations to do their bidding throughout Pakistan’s history. Publicly the military appears to be keeping out of the current fray, but there have been four coups since independence in 1947 and the country has spent more than three decades under army rule. Yesterday the court said it would not “indulge in the matter of state policy or foreign policy” in making a decision. “Our concern is the legality of the ruling of the speaker,” said Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. Opposition lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan said Khan’s actions were a violation of the constitution. “This is not just a matter of procedure but it is in negation of parliamentary democracy,” he told the court. The hearing yesterday was adjourned after legal arguments against the move were concluded. The court will hear from Khan’s team today. The court could order that parliament be reconstituted, call for a new election or bar Khan from standing again if he is found to have acted unconstitutionally. The court could also decide that it cannot intervene in parliamentary affairs. Pakistan’s security agencies have not found credible evidence to confirm Khan’s complaint of a foreign conspiracy, an official with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. Khan and the deputy speaker had said Pakistan’s National Security Committee, a top panel that groups civilian officials as well as the military and intelligence chiefs, had confirmed a plot to overthrow him. However, the official, who is privy to such proceedings, said the security agencies had not come to the same conclusion as Khan and had communicated their view to him.

Pakistan’s top court has adjourned without deciding on the legality of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s actions in blocking an opposition attempt to oust him, a move that has led to political turmoil in the nuclear-armed nation. Khan, a former cricket star, lost his majority in parliament last week as his opponents built support in advance of a vote of no-confidence that had been due on Sunday. However, the deputy speaker of parliament, a member of Khan’s party, threw out the no-confidence motion that the prime minister had been widely expected to lose, ruling it was part of a foreign conspiracy and unconstitutional. Khan then dissolved parliament. According to the constitution, the prime minister cannot ask for the assembly to be dissolved while he is facing a no-confidence vote. The stand-off has thrown the country of 220mn people, which the military has ruled for almost half its history since independence in 1947, into a full-blown constitutional crisis. Pakistan’s opposition has challenged Khan’s decision in a legal case that began yesterday, with a five-member Supreme Court bench hearing arguments in a packed courtroom. The court failed to come to a verdict during the three-hour hearing and will return today. “The ruling was unlawful – why?” Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked lawyers for Pakistan’s opposition. Whatever the Supreme Court decides, Pakistan looks to be heading for a fresh election before the completion of the current term of the parliament and the prime minister in 2023. If Khan prevails, polls will happen within 90 days. The opposition also wants an early election, albeit after delivering a political defeat to Khan by ousting him through a parliamentary vote. Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif called the blocking of the vote “nothing short of high treason”. Khan appeared to have wrong-footed the opposition with his weekend manoeuvres. “Khan’s ‘surprise’ triggers constitutional crisis,” thundered The Nation newspaper yesterday, while its rival Dawn called it “A travesty of democracy” above a front-page editorial. “The nation is stunned,” the English-language Dawn newspaper said in an editorial. “Even as political pundits and the media confidently predicted Mr Imran Khan’s defeat in the vote of no-confidence, he seemed unperturbed. No one could have guessed that his last ploy would involve having the democratic order burnt down.” Khan also dissolved the cabinet and wants a general election within 90 days, although that decision officially rests with the president and the election commission, and depends on the outcome of the court hearing. The largely ceremonial head of state, President Arif Alvi, said in a statement that Khan would stay on as prime minister in an interim role until a caretaker prime minister was appointed under whom a general election would be held. Alvi wrote to both Khan and Sharif, asking them to put forward names for a caretaker prime minister within three days, the president’s office said in a statement. Sharif has declined to co-operate. “How can we respond to a letter written by a person who has abrogated the constitution?” he told a press conference yesterday. Fawad Chaudhry, information minister in the outgoing cabinet, tweeted that Prime Minister Khan had proposed former chief justice Gulzar Ahmad for the role. However, whether an election will happen depends largely on the outcome of the legal proceedings. The Supreme Court could order that parliament be reconstituted, call for a new election, or bar Khan from standing again if he is found to have acted unconstitutionally. The court could also decide that it cannot intervene in parliamentary affairs. Khan says that he did not act unconstitutionally, calling the move to oust him a plot orchestrated by the United States – a claim Washington denies. After coming to power in 2018, Khan moved Pakistan closer to China and Russia and away from the United States. Political analysts say that the powerful military regarded Khan’s conservative, nationalist agenda favourably when he won election in 2018, but later cooled towards him over various wrangles. The military denies involvement in civilian politics but the generals are unlikely to stand by if they believe political chaos was damaging the country or if their core interests were threatened. As the opposition scrambled to react, Prime Minister Khan taunted them on Twitter. “Astonished by the reaction,” he tweeted, adding the opposition had been “crying hoarse” about the government failing and losing the support of the people. “So why the fear of elections now?”

Pakistan's Supreme Court was hearing arguments Monday around Prime Minister Imran Khan's shock decision to call an early election, sidestepping a no-confidence vote that would have seen him booted from office. The opposition had expected to take power on Sunday after mustering enough votes to oust the cricketer-turned-politician, but the national assembly deputy speaker refused to allow the motion to proceed because of "foreign interference". Simultaneously, Khan asked the presidency -- a largely ceremonial office held by a loyalist -- to dissolve the assembly, meaning an election must be held within 90 days. On paper, and pending any court decision, Khan will remain in charge until an interim government is formed to oversee elections. A notice Monday from President Arif Alvi to Khan and opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif said they should agree on a new interim prime minister, but Sharif declined to cooperate. "How can we respond to a letter written by a person who has abrogated the constitution?" he told a press conference Monday. According to the constitution, the prime minister cannot ask for the assembly to be dissolved while he is facing a no-confidence vote. "Khan's 'surprise' triggers constitutional crisis," thundered The Nation newspaper Monday, while its rival Dawn called it "A travesty of democracy" above a front-page editorial. An alliance of usually feuding dynastic parties had plotted for weeks to unravel the tenuous coalition that made Khan premier in 2018, but he claimed they went too far by colluding with the United States for "regime change".   - Washington denial -   Khan insists he has evidence -- which he has declined to disclose publicly -- of Washington's involvement, although local media have reported it was merely a letter from Pakistan's ambassador following a briefing with a senior US official. Western powers want him removed because he won't stand with them on global issues against Russia and China, Khan said. Washington has denied involvement. Pakistan's Supreme Court has now received a slew of suits and petitions from the government and opposition regarding the crisis, but has also taken up the case "suo moto" -- on its own merit. "This is an urgent matter," chief justice Umar Atta Bandial said late Sunday. The current court is ostensibly independent, but rights activists say previous benches have been used by civilian and military administrations to do their bidding throughout Pakistan's history. It is unclear when the court may rule on the issue -- or if Khan would even accept its decision -- but there is precedent. In 1988 Muhammad Khan Junejo appealed to the Supreme Court after the assembly was dissolved by President General Zia-ul-Haq, who had taken power in a military coup years earlier. The court agreed his government had been dissolved unconstitutionally, but ruled that since elections had been announced anyway it was best to move on. Khan was elected after promising to sweep away decades of entrenched corruption and cronyism, but has struggled to maintain support with inflation skyrocketing, a feeble rupee and crippling debt. Some analysts said Khan had also lost the crucial support of the military, but it is unlikely he would have pulled off Sunday's manoeuvres without its knowledge -- if not blessing. There have been four military coups -- and at least as many unsuccessful ones -- since independence in 1947, and the country has spent more than three decades under army rule. "The best option in this situation are fresh elections to enable the new government to handle economic, political and external problems faced by the country," said Talat Masood, a general-turned-political analyst. As the opposition scrambled to react, Khan taunted them on Twitter. "Astonished by the reaction," he tweeted, adding the opposition had been "crying hoarse" about the government failing and losing the support of the people. "So why the fear of elections now?"

Regarded as a wily cricket captain during his playing days, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared Sunday to have stumped his political opposition as well. The country's president dissolved the national assembly just hours after the deputy speaker declined to accept a no-confidence motion that would likely have seen Khan booted from office, meaning the country will go to the polls within 90 days. Whether he gets a second innings remains to be seen. Khan enjoyed genuine popular support when he became premier in 2018, but critics say he has failed to deliver on promises to revitalise the economy and improve the plight of the poor. The 69-year-old's Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was voted in by millions who grew up watching him play cricket, where he excelled as an all-rounder and led the nation to World Cup victory in 1992. The PTI overturned decades of dominance by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) -- two usually feuding groups that have now joined forces to oust him. Khan's vision was for Pakistan to become a welfare state modelled on the Islamic golden age of the 7th to 14th centuries, a period of cultural, economic and scientific flourishing in the Muslim world.  But he has made little headway in improving Pakistan's financial situation, with galloping inflation, crippling debt and a feeble rupee undermining economic reform. A deteriorating security situation, particularly since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan last year, has also happened on his watch. - Tiptoed into politics -   The Oxford-educated son of a wealthy Lahore family, Khan had a reputation as a playboy until his retirement from international cricket. For years he busied himself with charity projects, raising millions to build a cancer hospital to honour his mother. He tiptoed into politics and for years held the PTI's only parliamentary seat.  But the party grew hugely during the military-led government of General Pervez Musharraf, becoming a genuine force in the 2013 elections before winning a majority five years later. Running the country proved more difficult than sitting in opposition, however. Double-digit inflation has driven up the cost of basic goods, and while the economy is forecast to grow four percent this year, it has been stagnant for the last three. Pakistan has also had to borrow heavily just to service nearly $130 billion of foreign debt. The increasingly volatile security situation exemplified by the Taliban's return to power across the border in mid-August has also contributed to Khan's downfall. The hardline Islamists' victory was initially seen as a victory, both for Pakistan -- long accused of supporting them -- as well as for a premier dubbed "Taliban Khan" for his consistent advocacy of dialogue and criticism of US policy towards Kabul. But attacks by Pakistan's own Taliban -- as well as the local Islamic State group (EI-K) and Baluch separatists -- have increased despite Kabul's assurances that Afghan soil would not be used for such purposes. Pakistan's army is key to political power, and some analysts say Khan lost its crucial support -- claims both sides deny. Certainly, he could not have pulled off Sunday's manoeuvre without the military's knowledge, or support. - Closer to China, Russia -   Khan's efforts to position Pakistan as a key non-aligned regional player have not been successful either.  Ties with the United States have frayed, with Khan accusing Washington of working with the opposition for regime change. Islamabad has moved closer to China, even though the important work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has slowed down.  He has also moved closer to Russia, angering the West by continuing a visit to Moscow on the same day as the invasion of Ukraine.   - 'I never quit' -   Khan did have some domestic successes. He is credited with bringing Pakistan relatively unscathed through the global Covid-19 pandemic, and a free universal health scheme he pioneered is slowly being rolled out across the country.  Khan frequently rails against Western permissiveness, sparking outrage among rights groups by repeatedly linking rape to the way women dress in a country where sexual violence is widespread. Married three times, his current wife Bushra Bibi comes from a conservative family and wears a veil in public. Often described as being impulsive and brash, he draws frequently on cricket analogies to describe his political battles. "I fight till the very last ball. I never quit whatever the result may be," he said in an address to the nation last week.

Pakistan will go to the polls to elect a new government within three months after Prime Minister Imran Khan foiled an attempt to boot him from office Sunday by getting the president to dissolve the national assembly. On a day of high drama, the assembly deputy speaker refused to accept a motion of no confidence in the government, as Khan appeared on TV to say there had been "foreign interference" in Pakistan's democratic institutions. "I have sent advice to the president to dissolve the assemblies. We will go to the public and hold elections, and let the nation decide," he said. The presidency -- a largely ceremonial office -- acceded hours later. No premier of Pakistan has ever completed a full term, and Khan has been facing the biggest challenge to his rule since being elected in 2018, with opponents accusing him of economic mismanagement and bungling foreign policy. On Sunday parliament was due to debate a no-confidence motion that looked certain to succeed, but the deputy speaker -- a Khan loyalist -- refused to accept it, causing uproar in the chamber. The move appeared to blindside the opposition, who had confidently predicted they had enough votes to boot Khan from office.   - 'Spark anarchy' -   "This day will be remembered as a black day in Pakistan's constitutional history," said Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), who had been tipped to replace Khan if the vote had succeeded. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) effectively lost its majority in the 342-member assembly last week when a coalition partner said its seven lawmakers would vote with the opposition. More than a dozen PTI members had also indicated they would cross the floor. Khan has accused the opposition of conspiring with "foreign powers" to remove him because he will not take the West's side on global issues against Russia and China. Earlier this week he accused the United States of meddling in Pakistan's affairs.  Local media had reported that Khan received a briefing letter from Islamabad's ambassador to Washington recording a senior US official saying they felt relations would be better if Khan left office. In Washington last week State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters there was "no truth" to the allegations, but Khan insisted Sunday it was "a move to change the regime", and accused the opposition of betrayal. "This betrayal was taking place in front of the entire nation... traitors were sitting and planning this conspiracy," he added.   - Opposition gathers -   The opposition is headed by the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) -- two usually feuding dynastic groups that dominated national politics for decades until Khan forged a coalition against them. Khan was elected after promising to sweep away decades of entrenched corruption and cronyism, but has struggled to maintain support with inflation skyrocketing, a feeble rupee and crippling debt. Some analysts said Khan had also lost the crucial support of the military -- claims both sides deny -- but it is unlikely he would have pulled off Sunday's manoeuvre without its knowledge, if not blessing. There have been four military coups -- and at least as many unsuccessful ones -- since independence in 1947, and the country has spent more than three decades under army rule. "The best option in this situation are fresh elections to enable the new government to handle economic, political and external problems faced by the country," said Talat Masood, a general turned political analyst. Khan, an ex-international cricket star who in 1992 captained Pakistan to their only World Cup win, had hinted Saturday he still had a card to play. "I have a plan for tomorrow, you should not be worried about it. I will show them and will defeat them in the assembly."

Pakistan's president on Sunday dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, foiling an attempt by the opposition to boot Khan from office. "The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, has approved the advice of the Prime Minister," a statement from his office said, meaning fresh elections must be held within 90 days.

Imran Khan, a cricket legend who embarked on a long and difficult journey in politics to become prime minister, rallied his citizens with a vision of a corruption-free, prosperous country respected on the world stage. To his critics, however, the firebrand nationalist was too much under the thumb of the powerful military — which has ruled the country for half of its history since independence in 1947. Handsome and charismatic, Khan first grabbed the world’s attention in the early 70s as an aggressive fast-paced bowler with a distinctive leaping action. He went on to become one of the world’s best all-rounders, and captained a team of wayward stars from bleak prospects to Pakistan’s first and only World Cup win in 1992, urging on them with the famed battle cry to fight “like cornered tigers”. After retiring from cricket that year, he became known as a philanthropist, raising $25mn to open a cancer hospital in memory of his mother, before foraying into politics with the establishment of his Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), or Pakistan Movement for Justice party, in 1996. Despite his fame, the PTI languished in Pakistan’s political wilderness, not winning a seat other than Khan’s for 17 years. This period had its dramatic moments, however, with Khan in 2007 escaping house arrest by leaping over a wall amid a crackdown on opposition figures by then military ruler General Pervez Musharraf. In 2011, Khan began drawing huge crowds of young Pakistanis disillusioned with endemic corruption, chronic electricity shortages and crises in education and unemployment. He drew even greater backing in the ensuing years with well-educated Pakistani expatriates leaving their jobs to work for his party and pop musicians and actors joining him on the campaign trail. His goal, Khan told a gathering of hundreds of thousands of supporters in 2018, was to turn Pakistan from a country with a “small group of wealthy and a sea of poor” into an “example for a humane system, a just system, for the world, of what an Islamic welfare state is”. That year, after 22 years in politics, he was at long last victorious, marking a rare ascension by a sporting hero to head of state. Observers cautioned, however, that his biggest enemy was his own rhetoric having raised his supporters’ hopes sky high. Born in 1952, the son of a civil engineer, Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi described himself as a shy kid who grew up with four sisters in an affluent urban Pashtun family in Lahore, Pakistan’s second-biggest city. After a privileged education in Lahore, during which his cricketing skills became evident, he went on to the University of Oxford where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. As his cricket career flourished, he developed a playboy reputation in London in the late 1970s. In 1995, he married Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of business tycoon James Goldsmith. The couple, who had two sons together, divorced in 2004. A second brief marriage to TV journalist Reham Khan also ended in divorce. His third marriage to Bushra Bibi, a spiritual leader whom Khan had come to know during his visits to a 13th century shrine in Pakistan, reflected his deepening interest in Sufism — a form of Islamic practice that emphasises spiritual closeness to God. Once in power, Khan embarked on his plan of building a “welfare” state modelled on what he said was an ideal system dating back to the heyday of Islam, some 14 centuries earlier. His government made a number of key appointments based on qualifications and not political favours and sought to reform hiring in the bureaucracy and civil service. Other measures included making it easier for citizens to lodge complaints and the introduction of universal healthcare for the poor in one province with plans to expand the programme nationally. The government also began a project to plant 10bn trees to reverse decades of deforestation. To bolster a long-crippled economy, Khan made a significant u-turn in policy and secured an IMF bailout for Pakistan and set lofty, albeit unmet goals, to expand tax collection. But his anti-corruption drive was also heavily criticised as a tool for sidelining political opponents — many of whom were imprisoned on charges of graft. Pakistan’s generals remained extremely powerful and military officers were placed in charge of more than a dozen civilian institutions, including Pakistan’s flagship Belt and Road initiative with China, a national taskforce to combat Covid-19 and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has insisted that he would not resign, rejecting opposition calls to step down ahead of a no-confidence move against him in his toughest challenge since coming to power in 2018. Pakistan’s parliament will convene today to start proceedings into the no-confidence motion, which could take seven days to actually go for voting to decide whether Khan will be removed. The no-confidence move has risked constitutional, administrative and economic crises amid a pending International Monetary Fund (IMF) review to issue next tranche of a $6bn rescue package, which was scheduled this week but has yet to happen. Opposition parties filed the motion earlier this month, saying that Prime Minister Khan has lost his parliamentary majority after some 20 of his party lawmakers defected, calling on the prime minister to step down. “I will not resign come what may,” he said in a statement from his office issued late on Wednesday night. Khan said that he would not surrender without a fight and questioned why should he quit under pressure from “crooks”. Along with the defection of nearly 20 of his party lawmakers, some of his coalition partners have also suggested that they may join the opposition. Some political analysts and opposition lawmakers say that Khan has fallen out with Pakistan’s powerful military, which was seen as instrumental in the success of the former cricket star’s upstart party four years ago. The prime minister denies that the military helped him into office. The military says it does not interfere in politics. The opposition accuses Khan of mismanaging the economy and foreign policy. No Pakistani prime minister has ever successfully completed his full five-year term in office. The loss of dissident lawmakers has left Khan short of the minimum – 172 – needed for a simple majority in the parliament. The joint opposition commands 163 seats in the lower house, but could build a majority if most of the defectors effectively join its ranks via a no-confidence vote. The prime minister has filed a court petition seeking a lifetime ban on the defectors, and appealed them to return to the ruling party. He has also called on the public to show support for his premiership by holding a “million-man” rally in Islamabad on Sunday.

• Foreign ministers and representatives from 57 OIC countries watch grand show in Islamabad Pakistan yesterday celebrated its National Day with great fanfare with the armed forces displaying their might at a spectacular annual military parade in Islamabad. The highlight this year was the presence of foreign ministers and representatives from 57 countries participating in the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) who were guests of honour. Pakistan Day commemorates the passing of the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for the Muslims of the subcontinent. The day began with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and a 21-gun salute in all the provincial capitals. A change of guards ceremony was also held at the mausoleums of the Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohamed Ali Jinnah in Karachi and national poet Allama Iqbal in Lahore. Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajr prayer for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity. The grand military parade in Islamabad featured the three contingents of the armed forces and other security forces conducted a march while fighter jets presented aerobatic manoeuvres. Troops from other countries, including Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also participated in the parade. Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, the three services chiefs, federal ministers as well as officials were at hand for the show. After a mesmerising show from Pakistan Air Force squadron, Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy parachuters demonstrated their skills with free-falls from 10,000 feet. Pakistan Air Force jets perform aerobatic manoeuvres.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday suggested that close ally China and Islamic countries mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and try to bring about a ceasefire. The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) is holding the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which more than 600 delegates are attending, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as a special guest, in the Pakistani capital. The OIC is meeting with an ambitious agenda that seeks approval for over 100 declarations, including aid for financially strapped Afghanistan and support for the Palestinians and Kashmir. “May I suggest that OIC during its discussion with foreign ministers, we should think about how ... how we can mediate, how we can bring about the ceasefire,” Khan told the gathering. “I want to discuss how, maybe OIC along with China, we can all step in and try to stop this conflict which is going to have, if it keeps going the way it is, it would have great consequences for the rest of the world.” Khan’s comments came hours after China and Pakistan echoed concerns about “spill-over effects of unilateral sanctions” on Russia, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. Prime Minister Khan trumpeted his Islamic credentials at the OIC meeting. In an address to dozens of foreign ministers, he partly blamed Muslims for allowing Islamaphobia to spread, saying they had not united against actions deemed blasphemous for fear of being labelled extremist. “There is a perception that there is different types of Islam,” he told the 57-nation IOC gathering. “The moment you say you are a moderate Muslim, you acknowledge extremism,” he added, saying this suggested there was division on the issue of blasphemy. Violent protests have broken out across Pakistan in recent years over Western acts deemed blasphemous, including the publishing of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Khan long campaigned against growing anti-Muslim sentiment, and takes credit for the UN’s move last week to adopt an International Day to Combat Islamaphobia. Khan said he was inspired to enter politics by the example of the “perfect” society that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) attempted to create in Madina centuries ago. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the need for friendly coexistence. “China and the Islamic world have found a path of friendly coexistence and win-win co-operation between different civilisations, which serves as a model for a new form of diplomatic ties,” Wang said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday suggested that close ally China and Islamic countries mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and try to bring about a ceasefire. The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) is holding the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which more than 600 delegates are attending, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as a special guest, in the Pakistani capital. The OIC is meeting with an ambitious agenda that seeks approval for over 100 declarations, including aid for financially strapped Afghanistan and support for the Palestinians and Kashmir. “May I suggest that OIC during its discussion with foreign ministers, we should think about how ... how we can mediate, how we can bring about the ceasefire,” Khan told the gathering. “I want to discuss how, maybe OIC along with China, we can all step in and try to stop this conflict which is going to have, if it keeps going the way it is, it would have great consequences for the rest of the world.” Khan’s comments came hours after China and Pakistan echoed concerns about “spill-over effects of unilateral sanctions” on Russia, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. Prime Minister Khan trumpeted his Islamic credentials at the OIC meeting. In an address to dozens of foreign ministers, he partly blamed Muslims for allowing Islamaphobia to spread, saying they had not united against actions deemed blasphemous for fear of being labelled extremist. “There is a perception that there is different types of Islam,” he told the 57-nation IOC gathering. “The moment you say you are a moderate Muslim, you acknowledge extremism,” he added, saying this suggested there was division on the issue of blasphemy. Violent protests have broken out across Pakistan in recent years over Western acts deemed blasphemous, including the publishing of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Khan long campaigned against growing anti-Muslim sentiment, and takes credit for the UN’s move last week to adopt an International Day to Combat Islamaphobia. Khan said he was inspired to enter politics by the example of the “perfect” society that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) attempted to create in Madina centuries ago. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the need for friendly coexistence. “China and the Islamic world have found a path of friendly coexistence and win-win co-operation between different civilisations, which serves as a model for a new form of diplomatic ties,” Wang said.