‘Democratic win’ or ‘fascism’
A year on, the historic no-trust vote remains shrouded with controversy
Islambad
Pakistan marked the first anniversary of the unceremonious ouster of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan as premier on Sunday after the present ruling coalition voted him out of office.
Gruelling political uncertainty had ended around midnight when the daylong session of the lower house of parliament convened to vote on the no-confidence motion and culminated with the dismissal of Imran Khan, the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan, who became the first chief executive to be removed from office after losing majority in the National Assembly.
Imran’s PTI party, which governed the country for over three-and-a-half years, had been struggling to stay in power as its allies betrayed to join the opposition parties that had joined forces against the government.
While Pakistan’s history has been marred with political instability, no prime minister had ever been removed from office through a no-trust motion.
With the promise to “rebuild Pakistan” the 13-party coalition, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had cheered the development on in 2021 and championed it even after its split.
Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s chairperson and present Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had congratulated the whole nation and the House, “as for the first time in the history of the country, a no-confidence motion has succeeded and we have made history”, claiming that the “selected” who had proved himself to be an “undemocratic burden” on the country saw the end of his rule. “Democracy is the best revenge,” Bilawal had said.
Echoing similar sentiments today, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Talal Chaudhry extended his felicitations to the nation for “having rid itself of the PTI’s reign”.
“I congratulate you on attaining freedom from those who emptied the national treasury and left the nation hungry,” he said, “from those who stole the public mandate and the traitors who set up minefields in the path of the economy,” he said.
“I congratulate you on a year of freedom from the cruel predators who usurped media freedoms, from thieves of wheat, sugar, ghee, medicines, fertilisers, electricity and gas,” he added.
Ironically, however, all sins that Chaudhry accused the PTI of having committed were shouted right back at the coalition government as the ousted party termed it “a year of imposed fascism” instead.
In a series of tweets, the PTI lamented the “failures” of the current regime.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that “one year of Pakistan’s worst fascist junta, the long dark night that came to end the bright (future) of Pakistan a year ago is still imposed today.”
He also expressed hope that “in a few days’ time this night will end and power will be transferred to the people”.
