ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan announced its verdict and declared the National Assembly Deputy Speaker ruling dismissing the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan as unconstitutional.
A five-member bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial announced a unanimous decision. The court also announced to restore the dissolved National Assembly on Saturday, April 9, at 10:30 AM saying the session cannot be adjourned without the conclusion of the no-trust motion against the prime minister.
The court’s ruling said “the prime minister did not have the right to advise the president to dissolve the assembly […] all the decisions made till date have been nullified”. It added that “if the no-confidence motion against the prime minister succeeds, then the assembly will appoint the new prime minister”.
The bench also comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail finished hearing the case earlier in the day.
The apex court ruled that President Dr Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly was “illegal” and restored Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as his cabinet as well as restoring the NA proceeding’s before the deputy speaker’s ruling on April 3.
In the landmark verdict, the top court retained the opposition’s no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan. The Supreme Court ruled that the deputy speaker’s ruling was a violation of the Constitution and nullified the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).
A large number of lawyers, media personnel and politicians, including PML-N’s Shehbaz Sharif and PPP’s Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, were present at the court ahead of the verdict. Opposition leaders came out of the court showing victory signs as supporters raised slogans.
The verdict said that the government could not interfere in the participation of any MNA in the assembly session. The court further stated that the current order would not impact the proceedings under Article 63 of the Constitution. The chief justice further stated that a detailed verdict will be issued later.
Reaction
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”.
“I congratulate the entire nation,” said Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. “This is the victory of the constitution and the entire nation.”
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reacted to the decision of the top court, took to Twitter and celebrated the Opposition’s win by writing: “Democracy is the best revenge.”
Democracy is the best revenge!
Jiya Bhutto!
Jiya Awam!
Pakistan Zindabad.— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 7, 2022
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz expressed her gratitude to God for the Opposition’s win. “I congratulate the nation as the supremacy of the Constitution has been restored,” she wrote.
“Those who had violated the Constitution are done away with. May Allah keep Pakistan shining,” she said, while hailing her uncle, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, and wrote that he would be the next premier.
شکر الحمدُ للّٰہ ربّ العالمین ????????
قوم کو آئین کی سر بلندی بہت بہت مبارک۔ آئین توڑنے والوں کا کام ہمیشہ کے لیے تمام ہوا۔ اللّہ پاکستان کو چمکتا دمکتا رکھے۔
وزیرِ اعظم شہباز شریف انشاءاللّہ! ????????— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 7, 2022
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said reacted angrily and said this “unfortunate decision has exacerbated the political crisis in Pakistan”. He said immediate elections could have brought stability to the country but, unfortunately, the people has been overlooked. Let’s see how things move forward, he said.
Prior to the landmark verdict, PM Imran Khan has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will accept the verdict whatever it may be. The primer minister’s legal team had briefed him on apex court’s hearing on the petition.
اس بد قسمت فیصلے نے پاکستان میں سیاسی بحران میں بہت اضافہ کرُدیا ہے فوری الیکشن ملک میں استحکام لا سکتا تھا بدقسمتی سے عوام کی اہمیت کو نظر انداز کیا گیا ہے ابھی دیکھتے ہیں معاملہ آگے کیسے بڑھتا ہے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 7, 2022
