Political instability deepens in Pakistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Pakistan, a nuclear-capable state where over a dozen militant groups are active and Baloch separatists staging attacks, is sliding into political instability.

The uncertain situation has been triggered by the removal of former prime minister Imran Khan, who addressed a mammoth gathering in the port city of Karachi on Saturday night.

At the overnight rally, coming after similar public meetings in Islamabad and Peshawar, Imran directly blamed the US for his ouster.

He claimed a conspiracy was hatched against him and money was used to convince his own party lawmakers to join the combined opposition, he alleged.

due to which he lost the majority in the lower house and gave the opposition the upper hand.

Former Pakistani opposition leader Shabaz Sharif is the new prime minister of Pakistan currently.

Explaining the alleged conspiracy that led to his ouster as prime minister, Imran told the gathering in Karachi that he had learned three to four months ago that US officials had started meeting leaders of the then opposition parties and dissident PTI MPs and journalists at the American embassy.

After those meetings, involving State Department official Donald Lu and the Pakistani ambassador, he came to know that a no-confidence motion was being tabled against his government.

Saturday also marked a day of political instability in Pakistan’s Punjab province, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Sharif has been elected as chief minister.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari was wounded during Saturday’s chaotic session aimed to elect the new provincial chief minister.

As PML-Q and its ally PTI boycotted the session, the prime minister’s son Hamza Shehbaz polled 197 votes to defeat his rival Pervez Elahi, former speaker of the assembly.

Injured in the altercations, the deputy speaker hailed the day as a success for democracy and commended the house members who participated in the voting.

Speaking after his electoral win, Hamza promised he would not seek revenge and would instead focus on serving the masses.

nh/mud