Imran Khan De-Notified As Pakistan PM, To Hold Role Till Caretaker PM Appointed
Imran Khan will not be empowered to make decisions that an elected head of the government can make, reports said.
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PTI Chairman Imran Khan was de-notified as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Sunday, 3 April, in the wake of the dissolution of the National Assembly by the President, Geo News reported.
He will not be empowered to make decisions that an elected head of the government can make, it added.
A notification from the Cabinet Division said, "Consequent upon dissolution of the National Assembly by the President of Pakistan, in terms of Article 58(1) read with Article 48(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, vide Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs' SRO No. 487(1)/2022, dated 3rd April, 2022, Mr Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi ceased to hold the Office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with immediate effect."
Taking to Twitter, Pakistan President Arif Alvi also announced that Imran Khan will continue to serve as the prime minister for now.
"Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, shall continue as Prime Minister till the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister under Article 224 A (4) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," he wrote.
Seeking Recommendations
As per a Geo News report, the president has also sought the suggestions of Imran Khan and the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of a caretaker PM.
If both parties are unable to reach a consensus in three days, then they can each recommend two individuals for the post to the eight-member parliamentarian committee responsible for the appointment.
Imran Khan has already sent two names to President Alvi for the post of caretaker PM, according to minister Fawad Chaudhry, quoted by Pakistan's ARY News. He added that if the joint opposition is unable to finalise recommendations within 7 days, the top candidate from the names suggested by PTI will become the caretaker premier.
During a hearing of a suo moto notice and presidential reference, a bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, said that a Speaker can reject a resolution as per the Assembly rules, reported Geo TV.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) counsel Farooq H Naek requested the court to form a full-court bench to hear the case.
No-Confidence Motion Disallowed, Assembly Dissolved
This came hours after a no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government was disallowed by the National Assembly Speaker on Sunday, citing a security threat.
Minutes later, President Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of PM Khan.
(With inputs from Geo News.)
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