Musings From Abroad

Pakistan PM, Imran Khan, swept aside after losing confidence vote

Published

3 years ago

April 11, 2022

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has been swept out of office after 174 members of parliament voted against hi a few days after he had blocked a similar attempt.

The former Cricket star turned politician was deposed on Saturday by a no-confidence vote in the parliament, after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that he had acted unconstitutionally by previously using his veto power to block the process and dissolving parliament.

The no-confidence motion, which required 172 votes in the 342-seat parliament to pass, was supported by 174 politicians, including members of his own party, ending Khan’s three and half years in power.

The defiant Khan has accused the opposition of colluding with the United States to unseat him, calling on his supporters to stage nationwide rallies from on Sunday.

“I will not accept an imported government. I’m ready for a struggle,” Khan had said while addressing his supporters.

With the deposition of the 69-year-old PM, Khan had become the first Prime Minister in the country’s history to be overthrown through a vote of no confidence which is the only constitutional way to remove the head of government in Pakistan.

However, it is on record that no Pakistani Prime Minister has ever completed a five-year term in office in the country’s 75-year history.

Khan’s political troubles and eventually removal took roots when his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost the support of coalition allies, denying him the majority he needed to defeat the vote of no-confidence.

Outside of parliament, Khan also lost the support of Pakistan’s powerful military, which the opposition alleged helped him win the 2018 general election, and had recently publicly fallen out with the Prime Minister over senior military appointments and policy decisions.

Before his eventual removal, principal opposition parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), had ramped up efforts to dislodge Khan, with coalition allies becoming vocal in their dissatisfaction with him.

The opposition parties also accused Khan of failing to revive an economy battered by COVID-19 or fulfil promises to make Pakistan corruption free.

Related Topics:Featured Imran Khan Pakistan Vote of No Confidence

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Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

20 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

20 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.