NEW DELHI: Pakistan prime minister
Imran Khan lost the
no-trust vote
on Saturday bringing an end to the political and constitutional turmoil.
After several delays throughout Saturday, the National Assembly finally voted in the
no-trust motion
at midnight. The opposition was able to secure the required 172 votes to oust Khan.
Now that Khan has lost the no-trust vote, here’s what happens next:
* The National Assembly can continue to function until its five-year tenure ends in August 2023, after which a general election is due within 60 days.
* There will be a vote in the National Assembly to elect a caretaker PM to serve until then. Candidates can be put forward by any party with legislators in the assembly.
* The opposition has consistently suggested that its sole candidate for the post of caretaker PM is Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader
Shehbaz Sharif
.
* The caretaker PM can call a general election immediately, without waiting until 2023.
* Some constitutional analysts say the assembly can be dissolved and a general election held if no candidate can secure a majority of votes to become the caretaker PM.