Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday set aside Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri’s ruling on no-confidence motion against Imran Khan.
It also restored the National Assembly, which was dissolved by President Arif Alvi on the advice of Imran Khan.
Earlier in the day, the SC termed as wrong the ruling of the Deputy Speaker of National Assembly over the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan.
During the hearing, Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that it was clear that Suri’s April 3 ruling was “erroneous” but “the real question at hand is what happens next”.
Deputy Speaker Suri citing Article 5 (loyalty to the State) had dismissed the no-confidence motion against Khan, who had lost the majority in the National Assembly and was on his way out of power. Minutes later, President Arif Alvi had dissolved the Assembly on the advice of Khan.
Pakistan Supreme Court today set aside Deputy Speaker’s ruling on no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. It also restored the National Assembly, which was dissolved by President Arif Alvi on the advice of Imran Khan.
During the hearing today, the CJP observed that the no-confidence resolution against Imran Khan had a constitutional backing and was liable to be succeeded but was scuttled at the last minute.
Imran Khan today held an important meeting with his legal team ahead of the Supreme Court verdict and said that his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will accept the verdict whatever it would be, Pakistan’s ARY News reported.
The Supreme Court has summoned Secretary of Election Commission, who have arrived in the SC with legal team, Dawn reported.
Security commandos have been deployed inside the Supreme Court premises ahead of judgement, which will decide the fate of Imran Khan.
Shehbaz Sharif urged the SC to restore Parliament. He said he hoped that when the deputy speaker’s ruling was suspended, the no-confidence motion would be revived. “I have one request…restore the NA,” Shehbaz said.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has said that it needs at least four months to conduct free and fair elections.
It said polls also not possible as constituencies have been reduced to 266 from 272 after merger of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas and reduction of seats in tribal areas from 12 to 6, according to Dawn.
The reduction in seats warranted fresh delimitation, which the commission said, is not possible in the absence of official census results.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has said that general elections are not possible before October this year as it needs seven months to ensure free, fair, and transparent polls in the country, according to Radio Pakistan.
The Supreme Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said during the hearing today that the April 3 ruling of the Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri dismissing the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan was erroneous. The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that they now “have to look at national interest”.
A five-member bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court, headed by CJP Bandial and also comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Mandokhel, is hearing a suo motu case dealing with the legality of the National Assembly Deputy Speaker’s ruling on the no-trust vote and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly by the Pakistani President on the advice of PM Imran Khan.
CJP Bandial had yesterday remarked that Article 69 of the Pakistan Constitution does not allow interference in National Assembly proceedings and what the nation witnessed on April 3 was unprecedented. “The no-confidence resolution which had a constitutional backing and liable to be succeeded was scuttled at the last minute,” the CJP regretted.
