Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling to dismiss the no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran and the subsequent dissolution of the lower house of the Parliament by the president on the PM’s advice.
In a unanimous decision of all the five members of the larger bench, the apex court, in its short order, ruled that the deputy speaker’s ruling was “contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect, and the same are hereby set aside”.
The Supreme court ruled that President Dr. Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly was also “contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect.”
The judges noted that the prime minister could not have advised the president to dissolve the assembly as he continues to remain under the bar imposed under clause (1) of Article 58 of the Constitution.
“It is further declared that the [National] Assembly was in existence at all times, and continues to remain and be so,” the short order said.
The Supreme Court ordered for the session of the National Assembly to reconvene on Saturday at 10:30 am..
The highest court also said that the session cannot be adjourned without the conclusion of the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has convened a meeting of the restored cabinet on Friday. Khan’s PTI party has not so far come out with a reaction to the Supreme Court’s verdict.
While announcing the decision, Justice Bandial declared the deputy speaker gave a ruling on April 3. Leave was granted on the no-confidence motion on March 28.
“The ruling of the speaker is declared unconstitutional,”
“The current issues are done away with,” he said.
The verdict said that the government could not interfere in the participation of any MNA in the assembly session.
The court stated that the current order would not impact the proceedings under Article 63 of the Constitution.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, while talking to the media after the verdict, said the court had “definitely fulfilled the people’s expectations”.
He is the likely candidate for the prime ministerial position from the alliance of Opposition parties.
A large number of lawyers, media personnel, and politicians, including PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif and PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, were at the court ahead of the verdict.
