It is not cricket, Imran

American politics is boring. Indian politics is boring. But if you want thrilling scenes, watch Pakistani politics. (Sarcasm) 

Former Pakistani cricket player Imran Khan is the Prime Minster. His party is PTI. (Don’t ask me what the narrative.). Pakistan parliament has 342 seats. You need 172 seats to become Prime Minister. Imran had only 158 seats. He became Prime Minister with the help of a few smaller parties. 

On the day of Russia-Ukraine war started, Imran visited Russia and met with Putin. USA was not pleased with this visit. 

In the meantime, the opposition parties were thinking of tabling a no confidence motion in the Pakistani parliament against Imran. They started to “buy” the smaller parties that supported Imran. They also “bought” about 20 MPs from Imran’s own PTI party. 

Imran got mad and angry. 

While “no confidence” tabling in parliament was going on, Imran threw a bombshell. In an address to the nation, he showed a piece of paper and said he received a letter from a foreign government that he should resign immediately or they will take action against him. He would not say from where the letter came, who it was addressed to, how it was delivered, etc. 

Later in another address to the nation, he said it was USA, by slip of tongue. Then the news came it was a diplomatic cable from Pakistan’s Ambassador to USA. In that cable, the Ambassador said a lower-level U.S. State Department (Foreign Ministry) Secretary verbally gave this threatening information to the Ambassador. (Side bar: U.S. has denied this. Also, in the diplomatic world, they never use such a harsh language. Plus, many in Pakistan believe that this diplomatic cable was fabricated by Imran Khan himself.)

The notice of no confidence was given on March 8. As per their country’s law, the speaker should have summoned the parliament within 14 days. Once the session commences, it should be voted upon not before 3 days and not after 7 days. The speaker, who belongs to Imran’s party, postponed calling the meeting under some pretext or other and finally called the meeting on April 3, 2022. The Deputy Speaker who was in the Chair rejected the motion of no confidence and did not put it to vote. Immediately after that, Imran recommended to their President to dissolve the Parliament and call for early elections. 

The opposition parties have taken the matter to the Supreme Court. 

Instead of hearing both sides and give a ruling, the Supreme Court is dragging the case on and on. 

In the meantime, another entertainment from Pakistan. 

The Chief Minister of Punjab (in Pakistan) who belongs to Imran’s Party resigned. Imran and his allies are nominating the current Speaker to be the Chief Minister. But the opposition, as usual bought a few members from Imran’s party, have the upper hand and can win. The Deputy Speaker called for a meeting of the Assembly at 7:30 pm on April 6. Hearing this, the Speaker sealed off the Punjab Assembly with barbed wires and locked the building's main gate.

The opposition met in a nearby hotel and "elected" the new Punjab Chief Minister.

Stay tuned for more fun.

Update: April 7, 2022.  The Pakistan Supreme Court set aside the Deputy Speaker's ruling and ordered no confidence motion should be voted upon on day after tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, 2022.  It also restored the National Assembly which was dissolved by the Pakistan President on the advice of Imran Khan.