New Delhi: While the political turmoil in Islamabad is likely to worsen, Pakistan President Arif Alvi has said that Imran Khan will continue as Prime Minister. 


President Alvi said that Khan will remain the PM of Pakistan till the appointment of a caretaker PM under Article 224 A of the Pakistan Constitution.


"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," Alvi said in a tweet.



This comes after  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was on Sunday de-notified as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, in wake of the dissolution of the National Assembly by the President, according to an ANI report. 


A circular was issued by the government that said, "Consequent upon the dissolution of Pakistan 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, dated 3rd April 2022, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi ceased to hold the office of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with immediate effect."


The de-notification came hours after a day of fast-paced developments after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri abruptly dismissed the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan  as "unconstitutional", saying that it was backed by "foreign powers".


After the dismissal of the no-trust vote, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly upon being adviced by Khan. 


Imran Khan addressed the nation shortly after the session's adjournment and sought fresh elections and asked Pakistanis to gear up for the polls as the Opposition lashed out at the government's act of dismissing the motion as "unconstitutional".


Supreme Court to resume hearing on the rejection of no-trust vote today


Meanwhile, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Sunday took suo motu cognizance of the matter and barred all state institutions from taking any "unconstitutional" steps. The apex court will hear the issue today.


On Sunday, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial remarked that the judiciary can interfere to some extent in the proceedings of the National Assembly after arguments on the separation of powers between the judiciary and the legislature were advanced. The court refused to stay the ruling of the Speaker on the rejection of the no-confidence motion. Notices were also issued to the Prime Minister, the speaker of the National Assembly, and Deputy Speaker Sadiq Sanjrani who announced the rejection of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly earlier today.


Pakistan Opposition parties have been contemplating their actions going forward after the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was rejected and the National Assembly was dissolved. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said that Imran Khan and National Assembly speaker Asad Qaisar will be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution once their government falls, Business Recorder reported.


Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said that the opposition will "initiate a legal battle" against the "unconstitutional ruling by the NA Deputy Speaker".


After the no-trust motion against Imran Khan was dismissed on Sunday, Pakistan Army distanced itself from the  fiasco saying that it is not involved in politics.


Pakistan Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that all orders and actions initiated by Imran Khan and the president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order. Bandial made the observation after taking notice of the current situation in the country following the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan by NA Deputy Speaker Suri.


(with inputs from agencies)