Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party effectively lost the majority in the assembly earlier this month and has been ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership. Mr Khan is the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted by a no-confidence motion, with opposition parties securing 174 votes in the 342-member house in support of the no-confidence motion.
The vote was held past midnight after opposition parties brought a motion against him, following days of drama. The motion was first brought last week, but the former cricket star blocked it by dissolving parliament.
Sunday’s vote took place after the country’s Supreme Court ruled in favour of opposition parties and said that Mr Khan had acted unconstitutionally.
Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif – who is expected to be chosen as the new prime minister on Monday – said Pakistan and its parliament were “finally freed from a serious crisis”, adding in a tweet: “Congratulations to the Pakistani nation on a new dawn.”
His supporters are expected to take to the streets on Sunday evening.
‘International conspiracy’
Mr Khan has previously said he would not recognise an opposition government, claiming – without evidence – that there was a US-led conspiracy to remove him because of his refusal to stand with Washington on issues against Russia and China. The US has said there is “no truth” in these allegations, and Mr Khan has never provided any evidence.
He has repeatedly said that Pakistan’s opposition parties are working with foreign powers. Members of his party (PTI) left the building just ahead of the vote, also insisting he was the victim of an international conspiracy.
