ISLAMABAD: In Pakistan, the opposition presented the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan at the National Assembly, last day. The discussion on the trust vote will begin from Thursday onwards. The resolution was jointly put forward by both the opposition parties. As some members of Imran’s own party, Tehreek-i-Insaf, turned against him, it is almost certain that the government will fall. According to Pakistani law, voting should take place within seven days of tabling the resolution. The voting of the no-confidence motion will be held on April 4.

The motion can be passed with the support of 172 members in the 342-member National Assembly. Imran’s party has 155 seats in the assembly. As his political future remains in crisis, Imran Khan is attempting to secure support from the constituent parties. Amid political turmoil, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had resigned on Monday. Following which, Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema, also stepped down. The resignations came in as heavy blow for Imran.

The biggest political crisis

Imran Khan is facing the biggest political crisis of his career since swearing-in as the prime minister of the country. Now, Imran is not only dealing with the attacks from the opposition, but also from his own party. The army, which placed him on the prime minister’s chair, has also turned against him. That is why, the current situation can be termed the biggest political crisis of his life.

It was amid this turmoil that Imran Khan decided to display a massive show of strength in Islamabad, two days ago. The expectation that the next elections will be held soon had prompted him for such a display of strength. In his one-and-a-half hour long speech, Imran had indirectly criticized the army as well.

Imran, then and now

The present Imran is not the same person who was elected in 2018. Imran was then portrayed as a powerful man who came to save a debt-ridden country. However, it was alleged that he had secured power with the army’s aid. He had won 155 seats out of the total 342 seats in the Pakistan parliament. He formed the government with the support of 24 MPs from six different political parties.

Although Imran Khan was initially happy with the army leading all the major issues, later his equation with the military fell out of line. Soon, he began to lose popular support as the economic condition of the country worsened. The prices of essential commodities began to rise sharply and inflation rates crossed 12 percent. The opposition portrayed Imran Khan as a character who goes around countries begging for financial assistance.

If Imran loses power, then its main reason is his dispute with the army chief. His troubles began the moment he opposed Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Last year, General Bajwa decided to transfer some top generals under him. However, Imran was reluctant to transfer then ISI Chief Lieutenant Faiz Hameed along with the others. Although General Hameed was once in good terms with General Bajwa, they had distanced from one another over certain differences. Imran Khan had refused to sign the appointment of new ISI Chief Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum, for three weeks. With this began the clash between the government and the army.

It can still not be said whether Imran Khan’s fall may prove beneficial for India or not. This is because, when Imran was in power, he did not pose much threat to India. Even after an Indian missile was accidently fired into the Pakistani territory, Imran did not take any retaliatory action. However, India is likely to benefit from the rift in Pakistani army over the current political controversy. Former ISI Chief Lieutenant Faiz Hameed will certainly work for Imran if he loses the prime minister’s seat and if general elections are held next year. The fact that no civilian government in Pakistan was removed by a trust vote is what drives Imran to face a no-confidence motion now. Whatever happens next, it will definitely push Pakistan into a period of anarchy and uncertainty.