Ousting of Imran Khan sets Pakistan on uncertain political path; supporters promise return to power

The ousting of Prime Minister Imran Khan in a parliamentary no-confidence vote early on Sunday set Pakistan on an uncertain political path, with his supporters taking to the streets in protest and the political opposition preparing to install his replacement.

Tens of thousands of Khan supporters marched in cities across Pakistan, waving large party flags and vowing support. The youth, who make up the backbone of Khan’s supporters, dominated the crowds.

In the southern Arabian Sea port city of Karachi more than 20,000 shouted slogans promising Khan’s return to power. In the capital of Islamabad, the lights from thousands of supporters lit up the night sky as Khan made his way through the crowd atop a brightly coloured truck.

Khan was brought down after a day of drama and often vitriolic remarks. His supporters accused Washington of orchestrating his ousting and his party walked out of parliament before the vote. In the end, 174 politicians in the 342-seat parliament voted to depose him, two more than the required simple majority.

Khan’s successor is to be elected and sworn in by parliament on Monday. The leading contender is Shahbaz Sharif, a brother of disgraced former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Shahbaz Sharif heads the largest party in a diverse alliance of opposition factions that span the spectrum from the left to radically religious. Khan’s nominee for prime minister will be his foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

In an interview on a local television channel Qureshi said the party was still debating whether its politicians will resign from parliament after the prime minister’s vote is taken.