Imran Khan was dismissed Sunday as Pakistan’s prime minister after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament following weeks of political turmoil.
A new premier will be chosen Monday, with Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) chief Shehbaz Sharif almost certain to be picked to lead the nuclear-armed nation of 220 million people.
No prime minister has ever served a full term in Pakistan, but Khan is the first to lose office this way.
Opposition supporters took to the streets early Sunday, waving national and party flags from car windows as they raced through the streets.
There had been a massive security presence in the capital, but no incidents were reported.
Acting speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said 174 lawmakers had voted in favor of the motion, “consequently the vote of no confidence has passed”.
Khan, 69, who was not present, lost his majority in the 342-seat assembly through defections by coalition partners and even members of his own party, and the opposition had needed just 172 votes to dismiss him.
He tried everything to stay in power — including dissolving parliament and calling a fresh election — but the Supreme Court deemed all his actions illegal last week, and ordered the assembly to reconvene and vote.
There was drama right until the midnight deadline ordered by the Supreme Court, with the speaker of the assembly — a Khan loyalist — resigning at the last minute.
In the end, the session continued through to Sunday with a replacement.
“We will put a balm on the wounds of this nation,” Sharif said immediately after the result was announced.
