Pakistan PM Imran Khan suggests he might not accept vote to oust him

Khan says that a "foreign conspiracy" is being hatched against his government

By Agencies

Published: Sat 2 Apr 2022, 5:36 PM

Last updated: Sat 2 Apr 2022, 10:54 PM

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for nationwide protests as the National Assembly gears up to vote on a no-confidence motion against him.

Khan says that a "foreign conspiracy" is being hatched against his government.

Advertising

In a live address to people on Sunday, he said that the country will have "no future" if the situation continues. He encouraged the youth to participate in "peaceful" protests. "This is your right."

The PM also promised to "defeat" the conspirators tomorrow.

“No plot to oust the elected Prime Minister can be successful when the entire country stands together,” he said.

He suggested on Saturday that he might not accept a vote to oust him, a move he alleged was being orchestrated by the United States.

Opposition parties say Khan has failed to revive an economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic or fulfil promises to make his government more transparent and accountable, and have put forward a no-confidence motion due to be voted on Sunday.

“How can I accept the result when the entire process is discredited?” Khan told a select group of foreign journalists at his office.

“Democracy functions on moral authority - what moral authority is left after this connivance?”

“The move to oust me is blatant interference in domestic politics by the United States,” he said, terming it an attempt at “regime change”.

Hours before he spoke, the head of the army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, had said Pakistan wanted to expand its ties with Washington.

US President Joe Biden has not called Khan since taking office, but the White House has denied that it is seeking to topple him.

Bajwa told a security conference in Islamabad that “we share a long history of excellent and strategic relationship with the United States, which remains our largest export market”.

He noted that Pakistan had long enjoyed close diplomatic and business relationships with China, but added: “We seek to expand and broaden our ties with both countries without impacting our relations with the other.”

The U.S. embassy in Islamabad did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The vote for the no-confidence motion is to be held tomorrow.

ALSO READ: