Imran Khan will continue as the prime minister of Pakistan despite being de-notified as the premier, till the appointment of a caretaker prime minister, the President Secretariat said in a presser issued after Sunday midnight.
“Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, shall continue as Prime Minister till the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister under Article 224 A (4) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
Khan was de-notified as the prime minister of Pakistan earlier on Sunday after the dissolution of the National Assembly, Cabinet Division’s statement said, according to Geo News.
However, under Article 224 of the Constitution of Pakistan — once a notification is issued — Imran Khan will continue as the prime minister for 15 days till the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.
Taking to Twitter, President Arif Alvi also announced that Imran Khan will continue to serve as the premier for the time being.
“Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, shall continue as Prime Minister till the appointment of caretaker Prime Minister under Article 224 A (4) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” he wrote.
Despite being the prime minister for selected days, he will not be empowered to make decisions that an elected head of the government can make.
“Consequent upon dissolution of the National Assembly by the president of Pakistan, in terms of Article 58(1) read with Article 48(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, vide Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ SRO No. 487(1)/2022, dated 3rd April 2022, Mr Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi ceased to hold the Office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with immediate effect,” said the notification from the Cabinet Division.
The de-notification of Imran Khan comes hours after ex-deputy speaker of the NA Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against the PTI chairman and termed it “unconstitutional”, saying that it was backed by “foreign powers”.
Following the dismissal of the no-confidence motion, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly under Article 58(1) read with Article 48(1) upon the advice of the ex-premier.
Source: Agencies