Imran Stuck On ‘Last Ball’, Opposition Looks Ahead

Stung by the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate the National Assembly and his government, Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s first reaction came in the form of a tweet. “My message to our nation is I have always & will continue to fight for Pakistan till the last ball.” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was more direct, saying the verdict overlooked public interest. “This unfortunate decision has exacerbated the political crisis… Immediate elections could have brought stability to the country,” he tweeted. The Opposition has hailed the verdict as historic. Almost certain that Imran will lose the no-confidence vote on Saturday, talks have begun to form a new government in which all opposition parties will be represented proportionately. Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif has been chosen to lead the new government. It will be an interim arrangement till fresh elections are held, maybe six months or a year from now. A plan is in the works to overhaul almost every major decision taken by the Imran Khan government. And attempts will be made for the return of former PM Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif’s brother, to Pakistan. That will take some time though. Friday (today) is a busy day for Imran Khan. He has called meetings of the Cabinet and his party’s parliamentarians. And in the evening, he will address the nation.