IMAGE: A shopkeeper tunes a TV screen to watch the speech of PakistaniPrime Minister Imran Khan, at his shop in Islamabad. Photograph: AkhtarSoomro/Reuters
“In the coming days if we see a political or constitutional upheaval inPakistan, or an increase in instability, then we cannot rule out thepossibility of another coup in the country,” said defence expert SanjeevSrivastava.
Talking about the events that transpired in Pakistan’s National Assemblytoday, including the rejection of the no-confidence motion followed by thedissolution of the country’s National Assembly, Srivastava said, “We haveto see how the real rulers of Pakistan, that is the Army and the ISIrespond to the events that transpired.”*More like this*
[image: Pak SC forms 5-member bench over dissolution of Parl]linkPak SC forms 5-member bench over dissolution of Parllink
“We have seen that whenever there has been political instability inPakistan or there is any other kind of trouble, the Pakistan Army and theISI project themselves as the saviour of the people,” Srivastava said.
Referring to the worsening economic situation in Pakistan, Srivastava said,”The real rulers of Pakistan want to maintain their control over thepolitical system of the country, and in a worsening situation, they may notbe able to maintain it, and hence, they might consider ruling the countrydirectly, rather than from the sidelines like now. Therefore, we cannotdeny the possibility of a fourth coup d’etat in Pakistan.”
In a televised address to the nation after the no-confidence motion againsthim was rejected in the National Assembly on ‘constitutional grounds’,Imran Khan sought to take the Opposition by surprise by stating that he hasadvised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly on a day whenhe was slated to face the no-confidence motion.
Khan had said that he was given three options ahead of the no-trust vote bythe ‘establishment’ — resignation, holding early elections or facing theno-confidence motion.
Later on Sunday, the Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR) denied Pakistan Army’s role in the events that transpired in theNational Assembly.
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The military establishment however has denied the claim and said that itdid not bring the Opposition’s options, and rather it was the federalGovernment that telephoned the top brass while asking for a meeting todiscuss the ongoing political scenario, *The News International* reported.
The Chief of Pakistan Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and theDirective General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had metPakistan PM on Wednesday at the request of the ruling government, accordingto *The News International* citing sources.
Imran Khan has seemingly lost support both in the Lower House of thelegislature and the backing of the all-powerful Pakistan Army.
Imran Khan received a massive blow when the PTI ‘lost the majority’ in theNational Assembly after losing its key ally in the coalition MuttahidaQaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
The MQM on Wednesday announced that it had struck a deal with theopposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and would support the no-trustvote in the 342-member National Assembly.
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