Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from his post early on Sunday after losing the no-confidence vote, Times Now reported citing Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), as ongoing instability continues to plague the South Asian country.

The outcome of the vote, where 174 opposition members voted against Khan, saw the former cricketer becoming the first Pakistani prime minister to be removed from office prior to the end of his term via a no-confidence motion.

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Khan’s removal came at the end of much drama on Saturday. The parliament session saw four adjournments and considerable clamour by the opposition before the vote was held shortly before midnight. Prior to the vote, the speaker and deputy speaker also resigned.

The former World Cup winner’s removal, however, was expected: political observers in Pakistan had earlier said that numbers did not favour the Tehreek-e-Insaaf founder, on the back of opposition claims that 172 members out of 342 would vote against the Prime Minister.

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Despite making tall promises when he was elected, the Pakistan PM lost favour over the course of his tenure, especially with regard to his handling of the economy.

With his removal all but imminent, Khan had gone on the offensive earlier, claiming that the opposition’s move against him was part of a foreign conspiracy to bring about a regime change in Pakistan and install an “imported government.”

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The 69-year-old hinted that the US was behind the ‘conspiracy’ to remove him from power due to his neutrality on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and proximity to China.

The outgoing Khan is likely to be replaced by Shehbaz Sharif, leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the leader of the opposition, as well as the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.