Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been removed from office hours after scaling a vote of no-confidence by the now-dissolved National Assembly. 

A circular issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday noted that Mr Khan’s dismissal was effective immediately.

“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,” the Cabinet Division said. 

Pakistan’s Constitution notes, under Article 224, once a notification is issued, The Prime Minister can continue as the prime minister for 15 days till the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.

The circular did not name a temporary successor for Mr Khan, but the opposition party has named PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister, garnering the support of 195 members. The opposition party has appointed Ayaz Sadiq as the speaker who re-validated the no-confidence motion against the Mr Khan administration.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s legislative arm was dissolved by President Arif Alvi following the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Information minister Farrukh Habib confirmed that the assembly had been dissolved and elections would be held in the next 90 days.

This came after it voted on a motion seeking to remove Mr Khan from power. The motion faced opposition from the National Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who rejected voting on the no-confidence motion against Mr Khan, calling it “unconstitutional”.