Beyond Pakistan’s no-confidence motion

On 10 April, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan was deposed from office by a no-confidence vote, days after he defied the Constitution to block a similar attempt by dissolving Parliament. Now, Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are refusing to recognise the new government led by Shehbaz Sharif, while the political crisis that led to the court's historic rulling remains.

How are civil society groups and the wider public reacting to what's happening in Pakistan? Is there a broad understanding of the legality of the events unfolding beyond legal/advocacy groups? And what are the internal dynamics that allowed this no-confidence motion to happen?

In this second Himal Twitter space session, recorded on 22 April, we speak to Umair Javed, Reema Omer and Mohammad Jibran Nasir to gain a multifaceted understanding of the political crisis unfolding in Pakistan and what lies ahead.

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Speakers

Umair Javed – Assistant Professor of Politics and Sociology at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Javed is a current affairs columnist for Dawn. His research interests include labour relations in Pakistan's informal economy and politics, development and urban public life in Southasia.

Reema Omer – Lawyer, human rights professional, and currently Senior Legal Advisor (Southasia) for the international Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Omer is a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and writes regularly for national and international publications on issues of human rights, the rule of law and social justice.

Mohammad Jibran Nasir – Lawyer, political and civil rights activist based in Karachi. Jibran Nasir is the founder and lead campaigner for the NGO Never Forget Pakistan. He is involved in relief work as Trustee of Elaj Trust, and advocacy for marginalised communities through Pakistan For All.

The full discussion is now available on Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

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