Imran Khan nominates Pak's former chief justice as caretaker PM

Britain is working on "stepping up" sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime on Monday, as reports emerged of alleged civilian killings on the streets of some Ukrainian regions. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has flown down to Poland to meet with her Ukrainian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, and Polish foreign minister Zbigniew Rau. It comes ahead of talks involving the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and G7 countries later this week.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday questioned the Opposition as to why they approached the Supreme Court after fresh elections were announced, Geo News reported.

His remarks came during a live question and answer session on Monday, in which he criticised the Opposition for running away from the elections, saying that the Opposition is scared of PTI's popularity.

"When elections were announced, what is the Opposition doing in the Supreme Court? The Opposition wants an NRO II," he said in his opening remarks.

Biden calls for war crimes trial against Putin, says he's seeking more sanctions after reported atrocities in Ukraine. 

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that he is not "anti-American" and wants stronger ties with the US on the basis of mutual respect, Express Tribune reported.

During an interactive question and answer session with the public, the premier stated that he does not have any mal-intent towards the US, but rather aims towards a mutual friendship with the superpower, free from interference in domestic affairs against public interest.

"I am not against any country, I am not anti-American, but yes, we can be against certain policies. I want the two countries to have friendship, which means having mutual respect," Khan said.

Imran Khan has dealt a "fatal blow" to constitutionalism and given rise to the strongest concerns yet that he may not be suited to hold public office within a democratic order, Pakistan's media angrily commented on Monday, as they questioned the embattled cricketer-turned-politician's "unconstitutional" moves by a day earlier.

In a controversial move that has roiled the country, members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party on Sunday blocked a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister and got the President to dissolve the parliament, a decision that has been legally challenged by a stunned Opposition.

Khan had claimed the no-trust vote by the Opposition was part of a US-led conspiracy to remove him, but Washington has denied this.

Imran Khan has dealt a "fatal blow" to constitutionalism and given rise to the strongest concerns yet that he may not be suited to hold public office within a democratic order, Pakistan's media angrily commented on Monday, as they questioned the embattled cricketer-turned-politician's "unconstitutional" moves by a day earlier.

In a controversial move that has roiled the country, members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party on Sunday blocked a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister and got the President to dissolve the parliament, a decision that has been legally challenged by a stunned Opposition.

Khan had claimed the no-trust vote by the Opposition was part of a US-led conspiracy to remove him, but Washington has denied this.

Pakistan's former chief justice Gulzar Ahmed was on Monday nominated for the office of the caretaker prime minister by incumbent Imran Khan, amid ongoing political crisis in the country. Former information minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party Fawad Chaudhry said that the premier made the decision after approval from the party's core committee. The announcement comes after President Arif Alvi sent letters to Prime Minister Khan and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif on Monday seeking suggestions for the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentary Board on Tuesday to discuss ticket distribution in the next election, reported local media citing sources. The meeting, which will be chaired by Khan, comes after President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday, reported ARY News.

Hearing in Pakistan Supreme Court has been adjourned. The hearing will resume in the court tomorrow afternoon. The SC has said that it will take up the legality of the Deputy Speaker's ruling wherein he dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government.

Referring to Imran Khan's claim of threat by the US, Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader Shahbaz Sharif on Monday said that a no-confidence motion was submitted on March 8 and if there was a threat why wasn't it raised before March 24. Addressing a press conference today the PML-N chief said that Imran Khan along with his party members has blatantly challenged the Constitution of Pakistan. "Constitution was violated yesterday by Imran Khan Niazi and his group. Motion (No-Confidence) was submitted on March 8, if some message had come from the US while they claim that it was received on March 7, why did they not raise it on March 24?" he said.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan announces to be part of the protest outside red zone Islamabad today, says will protest with the people after Isha prayers around 9pm PST 

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has questioned the Opposition parties' decision to move to the Supreme Court against the National Assembly's Deputy Speaker. Khan also said that he will stage a dharna in Islamabad in the evening today.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday said that a "reasonable order" would be issued on the the legality of the current political situation in the country as the apex court heard the dismissal of a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the subsequent dissolution of Parliament by the President on the advice of the embattled premier. Bandial's remarks came while a larger bench of the Supreme Court comprising the CJP, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail took up the matter. During the hearing, the court rejected a plea by Farooq H Naek, who is representing the Pakistan People Party (PPP) and other Opposition parties, to form a full court bench to hear the matter, the Dawn newspaper reported. The CJP asked Naek if he had objections to any judge on the five-member bench. Naek said that he had full confidence in all judges on the bench. Justice Bandial said forming a full court bench would impede proceedings of other cases.

Pakistan's PM Imran Khan is speaking to the people of his country in a bid to garner support. Khan lost power after PTI's partners withdrew their support. PTI alone has 155 lawmakers in the National Assembly that has 272 chairs. 

Imran Khan's party PTI has recommended two names to the President for caretaker Prime Minister. They are Haroon Aslam and Justice Saeed Aslam. Pakistan plunged into a political crisis after Opposition parties joined the ranks to move a no confidence motion against Imran Khan in the National Assembly. However, the motion was dismissed by the Deputy Speaker on Sunday. Subsequently, President dissolved the National Assembly at the recommendation of Imran Khan. 

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has convened a meeting of the Central Executive Committee on April 5. 

Pakistan's Supreme Court rejected that demand for a full court hearing. "If you have objections on any judge, tell the chair. Full court delayed many cases. If no trust then we too will leave," the court said. Former law minister Farooq Naek who is affiliated with PPP had demanded a full court hearing. He is representing the Opposition in the SC.

PTI lawyer Babar Awan demanded that the matter be placed before the larger bench of the Supreme Court. The SC will look into the legality of the National Assembly Deputy Speaker's decision to reject a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A Pakistan Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justices Ijaz Ul Ahsan, Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Munib Akhtar and Jamal Khan Mandokhail has commenced hearing.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar is meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussion likely on the current scenario in the neighbourhood. 

Former Pakistan Law Minister Fawad Chaudhry has questioned the Opposition parties. He said that the people of Pakistan are now ready for elections. "If Shehbaz Sharif does not become part of the caretaker setup process, then it is his wish. No political party escapes from the election the way the opposition is running," he said. 

Addressing a press conference, PML(N) chief Shehbaz Sharif contended that Imran Khan violated the Constitution. He said, "Motion (No-Confidence) was submitted on 8 March, if some message had come from the US - they claim 7th March as the date - & they had an objection, why did they not raise it on 24th"? He added, "This was all an afterthought of Imran Niazi and his group, they could not face their loss that was going to take place as per the Constitution and the Law". 

A larger bench of Pakistan's Supreme Court will take up the legality of the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri. The court had on Sunday refused to stay the ruling. 

Caretaker Pakistan PM Imran Khan has called a meeting of PTI leaders today. Khan is likely to discuss strategies including that of the upcoming polls. On Sunday, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri had dismissed the no-confidence motion against Khan. President Arif Alvi approved the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan to dissolve the National Assembly after the embattled premier recommended the controversial move in the wake of a no-trust move against him.

Addressing a press conference, former Minister Asad Umar revealed that a meeting of the PTI's Central Parliamentary Board has been convened on Tuesday to begin the process of preparing for the elections and issuing tickets. 

After the drama in the Pakistan National Assembly, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid claimed that when the Supreme Court decision would be announced, the election days would be near, adding that the Speaker's ruling cant be challenged in a court of law, The News reported. Rashid said the decision to hold the new election was taken after due deliberations. Separately, in a statement, the former security czar of the country said that the general elections in the country would not be held via electronic voting machines (EVMs). He added that the opposition should be happy that the technology is not being used in the next general elections.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday named senior US diplomat Donald Lu as the person who was allegedly involved in the "foreign conspiracy" to topple his government through a no-confidence vote tabled by the Opposition. He then claimed that Lu, the top American official dealing with South Asia in the US State Department, was involved in the ‘foreign conspiracy' to topple his government. Khan claimed that Lu warned the Pakistani envoy to the US, Asad Majeed, that there would be "implications" if the Pakistan Prime Minister survived the no-trust vote in the National Assembly.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz PML(N) supremo Nawaz Sharif s office in London came under attack on Sunday night during which three persons were wounded. Around 15 to 20 persons, some of them wearing face masks were involved in the attack, reports said. Sharif is the supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N).

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and all others involved in the "conspiracy" against the nation are guilty of high treason and should be tried for desecrating the Constitution. Sharif's remarks came after President Arif Alvi approved the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan to dissolve the National Assembly after the embattled premier recommended the controversial move in the wake of a no-trust move against him. "Today, a man obsessed with power trampled the Constitution," Sharif, who is currently based in London, wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Sunday refused to suspend the National Assembly Speaker's ruling to disallow the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. PPP lawyer Latif Khosa had petitioned the court to suspend the ruling and grant an interim relief. The court has also ruled that the prime minister's orders will be subjected to the final verdict of the apex court, the report said. The Pakistan Supreme Court has issued notice to President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, defence and interior secretaries, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and others.

Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said on Sunday that all orders and actions initiated by the Prime Minister and the Ppresident regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order as he adjourned for one day the hearing of the high-profile case. Pakistan President Arif Alvi earlier dissolved the National Assembly (NA) on advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, minutes after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri blocked a no-confidence motion against the embattled premier.

Former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram has come out in support of Imran Khan. He shared an image on Twitter featuring Khan stating, "The Game Changer." 

A wary China kept a close watch on the rapid political developments in Pakistan - its all-weather ally – where the Parliament was dissolved at the recommendation of embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan after a no-trust vote against him was blocked by the deputy speaker of the National Assembly. While there is no official comment yet, the state-run media highlighted Khan's allegations of a foreign power behind the Opposition's no-confidence motion against him, which was cited as a reason by Qasim Khan Suri, deputy speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly, to reject the no-trust motion against the government. 

Former Pakistan Minister Farrukh Habib predicted that FIA's request for cancellation of Shehbaz Sharif's bail in the Ramzan Sugar Mills case will be approved today. Sharif is the opposition's candidate for the PM post. 

Pakistan's caretaker Pakistan PM Imran Khan will interact with the people of Pakistan via telephone today as a part of his public outreach programme. On Sunday, Khan had advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly.

Imran Khan has seemingly lost support both in the Lower House of the legislature and the backing of the all-powerful Pakistan Army. The opposition party had moved the no-trust motion against the PM on March 8. Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI "lost the majority" in the National Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P). The MQM announced that it had struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and would support the no-trust vote in the 342-member National Assembly. 

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Imran Khan's advice to President to dissolve National Assembly is a violation of the Constitution. Lashing out at the Deputy Speaker, he said, "He has done unconstitutional thing at the last moment. He broke the Constitution of Pakistan. The no-trust vote had to take place today as per the Constitution."

The Supreme Court formed a five-member larger bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan over the situation in the National Assembly on Sunday. The hearing in the court will resume today.

In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that he had advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly of Pakistan and call for fresh elections.

National Assembly's Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri on Sunday dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan terming it ‘unconstitutional’. The Pakistan National Assembly was subsequently dissolved and Imran Khan called for fresh elections in the country. 

In an editorial published on Monday, the Dawn newspaper stated Imran Khan could have played the political game like a true sportsperson and still emerged stronger from the loss given the sharp narrative he had spun leading up to the vote. READ FULL STORY