Image source The News International
On the anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s removal through a vote of no confidence, PTI leaders labeled the event a “black day,” while government-affiliated figures celebrated “topping the one-page regime.” The incident occurred on April 9-10 of the previous year.
In February of the following year, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which consists of the PPP, PML-N, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), announced its intention to bring a no-confidence motion against Imran. The PDM was successful in obtaining support from PTI lawmakers, resulting in the prime minister’s removal.
During a National Assembly session lasting over 12 hours, the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the PTI chief was passed at 1:00 am on April 10, with 174 out of 342 members voting in favor. This marked the first time in Pakistan’s history that a prime minister had been ousted through a VONC.
Imran accused foreign powers of conspiring against him, alleging a foreign conspiracy, although he later retracted his statement, claiming that he “no longer blamed” the United States.
Following his ousting, the PTI chairman initiated the “Haqeeqi Azaadi” (real freedom) movement against the coalition government, referring to it as a “jihad” against injustice.
On the one-year anniversary of Imran’s removal, the party’s official Twitter account shared a comprehensive Twitter thread comparing the achievements of the incumbent government with theirs, and condemning the alleged political victimization of their party workers.
PTI Secretary General Asad Umar tweeted, “The story that began a year ago through a regime-change conspiracy has now led to the violation of the Constitution after causing political unrest, economic destruction, and extreme fascism.”
In a separate tweet, he criticized the current government for the ongoing financial crisis in the country.
“Never before in Pakistan’s history has the growth rate reduced tenfold in a single year as it has done after the regime-change conspiracy. Nor has Pakistan ever seen the level of inflation that it has witnessed in the past year.”
Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari used the social media trend #9thAprilBlackDay, as did other PTI leaders, and tweeted that the “regime-change conspiracy brought a cabal of crooks into power after the SCP (Supreme Court of Pakistan) took suo-motu action against Qasim Suri’s ruling.”
Taking a dig at the PML-N, she added, “We did not start a campaign against the judiciary. In just one year, imported government and its facilitators have destroyed democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law, and sent the economy into a tailspin.”
In a tweet, Fawad Chaudhry, a PTI leader, expressed his views and stated that it has been one year since Pakistan’s worst fascist junta took power.
He asserted that the public’s relentless struggle is the light against the dark night imposed on the country. He also expressed hope that this black night would end in a few weeks and the power would be transferred to the people.
PTI leader Faisal Javed Khan compared international oil prices with the corresponding fuel prices in Pakistan last year during Imran’s tenure and this year.
He highlighted an increase in local fuel prices despite the global reduction in oil prices, and attributed the difference to the cost of corruption, incapability, and slavery.
In a previous optimistic message, he shared a screenshot of his tweet from April 9, 2022, stating that Imran Khan had not lost but had won. In his tweet today, he mentioned that Imran Khan’s popularity is currently at its highest, and the Pakistani nation has awakened.
Meanwhile, leaders from the coalition government celebrated their one year in power. Kasim Gillani, the son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, tweeted in praise of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He called him the most valuable player in the successful vote of no confidence against Imran Khan in April 2022. He claimed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari skillfully brought together various political forces in Pakistan and was instrumental in toppling the powerful “one-page” regime.
Separately, Bilal Azhar Kayani, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Economy and Energy, stated in a press conference that Imran Khan is responsible for the current economic turmoil in the country.
He claimed that instead of focusing on the economy, the ex-prime minister remained busy in political persecution and did not care about the public’s problems.
He stated that during Imran Khan’s tenure, six million people lost their jobs, and 20 million people were forced to live below the poverty line. He further claimed that the PTI government increased the country’s overall debt by 78 percent in less than four years.
He also stated that in its previous tenure, the PML-N government completed unprecedented development projects and overcame the historic energy crisis.
