Pakistan:Opposition files petition for election of a new PM

In Pakistan, amid political uncertainty, the opposition filed a petition in the National Assembly for the election of a new prime minister. The House was adjourned till April 3 after it resumed to debate on the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government. The adjournment comes after protests by members of Opposition parties over the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Meanwhile, Pakistan minister Fawad Choudhary said a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) was called to show proof how attempt is being made from outside to dethrone PM Imran Khan. Choudhary alleged that the conspiracy against Khan was hatched at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s house. "This is a fight for national sovereignty. We know who the key players are, their relations with India and Israel. Nawaz Sharif's meeting with Indian and Israeli officials is not hidden," Fawad Chowdhary said.

According to media reports, backdoor efforts are underway to reach a deal between the premier and the joint opposition to dissolve the lower house. "Talks are focused on one-point – the joint opposition withdraws the no-trust motion against Khan and in return he dissolves the National Assembly calling for fresh elections," the source said. Imran Khan's  government is in minority after key ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) with seven members crossed over to the opposition. In the 342-member Assembly, the opposition has 177 members against the majority mark of 172.

In case Imran Khan loses the trust vote, a new government could be headed by opposition leader and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This indication was given by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Shehbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion against Khan's government in the National Assembly on Monday. Shehbaz Sharif is the president of the PML-N, replacing his brother and ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been living in London since being convicted in two corruption cases in Pakistan.Sharif holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, having served on the post three times. He became the Chief Minister of Punjab province for the first time in 1997. But, after a 1999 coup by General Pervez Musharraf, he had to leave Pakistan and spent the next eight years in exile in Saudi Arabia.