After the high-voltage drama that lasted all day in Pakistan, a vote of no confidence was held in the National Assembly against Imran Khan’s government late at night, ending Imran Khan’s three-and-a-half-year innings with the defeat. The ruling PTI MPs did not participate in the voting on the no-confidence motion in Parliament and Imran Khan left the Prime Minister’s residence shortly before this. In the voting on the no-confidence motion in Parliament, 174 votes were cast against Imran Khan and thus his government fell short of majority.
Imran Khan, who was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018, faced a vote of no confidence over allegations of massive economic mismanagement. Till date no Pakistani Prime Minister has completed five years in office. Imran Khan was also able to stay in power for only three and a half years as Prime Minister.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who won the 1992 Cricket World Cup with his underrated team, failed to replicate that charisma in Pakistan politics and in the midst of this political innings, a strong opposition called him ‘ run out’. Imran Khan became the first Prime Minister in the history of the country who has been removed through a no-confidence motion.
Political uncertainty and resignation of prime ministers is not new in Pakistan. No prime minister has completed his term since Pakistan became an independent country in 1947. The power of the army in the politics of Pakistan can be gauged from the fact that so far there have been four military coups. Also, several coup attempts have failed. Pakistan has been under military rule for nearly three decades.
Shahbaz Sharif could be the next prime minister of the country after the Imran Khan government lost its majority. After the removal of Imran Khan, the way was cleared for the process of election of the new leader of the house. However, even before this, the United Opposition had announced that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Shahbaz Sharif would be their joint candidate.
Who is Shahbaz Sharif who can become the next PM
The younger brother of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, 70-year-old Shahbaz Sharif is the chairman of the PML-N. It was under his leadership that the United Opposition opened a front against the government led by Imran Khan and as a result, Imran Khan had to face defeat after voting on a no-confidence motion in Parliament. Political analysts say that unlike Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif has good relations with the Pakistan Army.
Shahbaz Sharif has been the CM of Punjab Province thrice. In 1997, Shahbaz Sharif became the Chief Minister of Punjab Province for the first time. However, Sharif had to leave Pakistan after Pervez Musharraf’s coup in 1999 and lived in Saudi Arabia for eight years in exile. After the political situation changed, Shahbaz returned to Pakistan in 2007 and after the party’s victory in the 2008 elections, he again became the CM of Punjab Province.