Pakistan president dissolves Parliament at PM's request

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By KATHY GANNON and MUNIR AHMED

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s president dissolved Parliament on Sunday setting the stage for early elections after the prime minister sidestepped a no-confidence move earlier in the day.

Imran Khan asked President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly, or law-making lower house of Parliament, accusing his political opposition of working with the United States to overthrow his government.

Pakistan’s constitution calls for the establishment of an interim government to see the country toward elections, which are to be held within 90 days. According to the constitution the interim government is to be established with input from the opposition.

Khan’s political opponents have called a decision by the Parliament’s deputy speaker to throw out their no-confidence resolution illegal and vowed to go to the Supreme Court.



Pakistani paramilitary troops stand guard with riot gears outside the National Assembly, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, April 3, 2022. Pakistan's embattled prime minister faces a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Sunday and the opposition said it has the numbers to win after Imran Khan's allies and partners in a fragile coalition abandoned him. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-religion-ad929acf523850fdb63a5b6dd960f1d2

[Lovie777]

1. Another dictator . ...

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Well, going for elections isn't exactly the move of a dictator

More like a populist who reckons he can get better support among the people than the politicians he was allied with. His "this is orchestrated by the USA" is nationalist rhetoric, certainly.

[JI7]

4. it's a bit complicated. Pakistan's real power is with the army

They were not happy with him and other political opponents wanted to get rid if him before term was over.

[malaise]

5. The truth

Imran did not support the US over Ukraine -
we know who is upset with Imran. Forced regime change is dictatorship.
The planet is not fooled. The US and Western pretense of supporting democracies is wearing thin (at home and abroad). Support for Western interests does not mean democracy. The concept of Democracy actually has meaning which goes beyond Western interests.
That is all.

[IronLionZion]

7. People voting for their leadership sounds like Democracy

If they vote the way America doesn't like, then our CIA can undermine them or call them terrorists and force regime change. That sounds more like an Orwellian use of the word Democracy.

But my favorite people are the Republicans who say the US is a Republic not a Democracy.

[malaise]

8. I've been asking about that for decades

If we really want democracies then our politicians cannot be owned by billionaires or oligarchs at home or abroad.
Our so called democratic governments find all the money they need to support the agenda of special interests, while our citizens become more and more ignorant and unhealthy by the day.
The social good has been murdered by the wealthy and our owned politicians and the billionaire owners of the media push the same agenda.
One more thing - you cannot claim to support democracy at home and support hand picked leaders overseas. That is lunacy.
The rule of law at home and abroad cannot only apply to Western enemies.

I am about ready to jump off this fucking planet.

[JI7]

10. This has nothing to do with the US. What Pakistan supports with regards

to Russia Ukraine has no influence there.

This has to do with Pakistan's own internal politics and the control the Army has over the country.

[brooklynite]

6. Nope; standard process for a Parliamentary Democracy.

[Cheezoholic]

2. Here we go

Hang on folks the coaster just left the station