From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, could soon be removed from office, as soaring inflation and a rift with the military threaten his grip on power, says The New York Times.
Opposition political parties moved for a vote of no confidence in Parliament after it appeared that Khan had lost his majority support and the backing of the country’s powerful military. Last week, Khan’s party was rocked by the defection of at least a dozen lawmakers who accused their leader of failing to tackle double-digit inflation. Khan, a former cricket star, denounced his critics as part of an American-influenced conspiracy.
“He’s a fighter,” Arif Rafiq, president of a political risk advisory company in New York, said. “But it simply just doesn’t look like he’ll have the numbers to survive a vote of no confidence.”
Of particular importance is the military’s dissatisfaction with Khan, whose 2018 election was widely credited to the military’s backing. The country’s generals appeared to sour on Khan for trying to place a loyal aide in charge of the army over the objection of high-ranking officials.
What’s next: Before the vote, which is expected as early as next week, Khan said he would gather a million supporters for a rally in Islamabad this weekend. The opposition responded by announcing a counterprotest, raising fears of violent confrontations.
###
