Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ousted after losing a vote of no confidence, ending a constitutional crisis as he tries to stay in power.

Opposition politicians submitted a proposal last Sunday and Mr Khan responded by dissolving Parliament and calling a snap election A decision later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.

The vote came on allegations of mismanagement and political mismanagement, blamed by opponents on economic failure and a fight against corruption.

Pan KhanAn Oxford graduate and former cricket star, he came to power in 2018 but recently lost his parliamentary majority and was described by a leading newspaper as “as good as he is”.

He accused his opponents of colluding with the United States to impeach him, but offered no evidence, urging people to take to the streets this weekend in protest.

Preparations for the vote were hectic in Pakistan’s parliament as members of Mr Khan’s party attempted to block the vote.

Opposition politicians charged him with high treason in a bid to undermine the Supreme Court’s petition.

Khan met with senior military officials, fearing he was trying to impose martial law in order to maintain power.

Pakistan’s Chief Justice has in turn prepared the Supreme Court to declare the government disrespectful if it does not allow a vote of confidence to be heard before midnight.

The opposition parties succeeded in obtaining 174 votes out of 342 deputies for a motion of censure. According to Reuters, several politicians from Mr Khan’s ruling party were present in the operation.

Opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif – brother of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif – is set to become caretaker prime minister.

The opposition announced that legislative elections would take place in October at the earliest.

The tragedy threatened further political instability for 220 million people armed with nuclear weapons.

There was a heavy police and paramilitary presence on the streets of the capital, Islamabad, with containers used to block roads.

No prime minister has completed a full five-year term since the country gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Pakistan’s military has ruled the country directly for nearly half of its 75-year history, toppling successive democratically elected governments.

For the rest of this period, she indirectly manipulated elected governments behind the scenes.