Den muslimske atommagt, som har voldt Vesten så store problemer på grund af sin ustabilitet og radikale islamistiske kræfter, gør omsider dét, som naboen Indien har gjort i 65 år: Lader en regering gå af uden våbenraslen.
Pakistan turned a new page in history at midnight Saturday when an official decree ended the life of its parliament and cabinet. It was a natural demise, not a violent death. There was no political upheaval, and no military intervention.
Never before has a civilian government packed up so peacefully, BBC online writes Saturday.
Pakistan’s Prime Minster Raja Pervez Ashraf has hailed this as “a victory” for democracy. “No-one will be able to harm democracy in future,” he said.
An interim government will now be installed until the next election, which is expected to be held in May.
Since Pakistan was founded in 1947, government were often overthrown in coups, toppled by political infighting or end in assassinations or murders.
Analysts say the government deserves credit for strengthening the legal and procedural infrastructure for democracy, but it also deserves criticism for failing to check militancy, improve the economy or stamp out corruption.
Mr Ashraf has been in the job for less than a year.
