The opposition immediately vowed to challenge the move by a member of the leader’s political party, and Mr Kahn advised the president to dissolve parliament and call elections. The cricket star became a conservative Islamist politician who came to power in 2018, but recently lost his parliamentary majority, facing the loss of a crucial vote after being ousted by key allies and coalition partners. Image: There is a strong security presence on the streets of the capital Islamabad. Photo: AP A prominent newspaper recently reported that Mr Kahn was “as good as he left”, but had urged his supporters to take to the streets before the scheduled vote. Recent developments threaten new political instability in the nuclear-armed country of 220 million. On the streets of the capital Islamabad, there was a strong police and paramilitary presence, with containers being used to block roads. Mr Khan’s refusal to step down and compete led to comparisons with Pakistan’s cricket team to an incredible 1992 World Cup victory after urging his team to “fight like tigers” in a speech that has remained in sports history. . Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leader of the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), promised a sit-in protest in parliament, saying: “We are also moving to the Supreme Court today.” The opposition had accused Mr Khan of failing to revive the economy and tackle corruption. Without providing any evidence, he claimed that the’s ousting move was orchestrated by the United States, a charge that was denied by Washington. Opposition and analysts say Mr Khan, who came to power in 2018 with the support of the military, has disagreed with him, although he and the military have rejected it. No prime minister has completed a full five-year term since independence from Britain in 1947, and generals have in many cases ruled the country.
