SC rejects plea to suspend NA Deputy Speaker’s ruling

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan rejected a petition to revoke the ruling of the Deputy Speaker National Assembly who had earlier stopped voting on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

A three-member bench headed by CJP Umar Atta Bandial , Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar heard the case heard the petition. The top judge asked all political parties to remain peaceful and not take any “unconstitutional” steps which could impede the law and order situation.

The top judge said the court has decided to take notice of the situation. The court issued notice to Attorney General, President Alvi and deputy speaker of the NA. The apex court adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (Monday).

During the course of proceedings, Chief Justice Bandial said that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and the president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly would be subject to the court’s order. The chief justice said the law and order situation in the country should not deteriorate, instructing all political parties to act responsibly.

He said that no unconstitutional step should be taken by any state institution and that no one should try to take advantage of the situation. He said that the court did not want to drag the hearing on account of Ramazan and notices should be issued to all the political parties.

He also ordered the interior and defence secretaries to brief the court on the law and order situation. The chief justice accepted the PPP’s request be accepted and said the court would review the deputy speaker’s actions. The court, however, rejected a request to suspend the deputy speaker’s ruling.

Justice Bandial remarked that President Arif Alvi should be made a respondent in the case since it was an important matter.
The court issued notices to Attorney General Khalid Khalid Jawed Khan, the speaker, deputy speaker, defence secretary, interior secretary, all political parties and adjourned the case’s hearing till Monday.

Political decisions

The development comes after the Opposition leaders demanded to review the “unconstitutional” ruling given by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.

Reacting to the verdict, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry asserted that parliament was a separate institution and National Assembly’s ruling couldn’t be challenged in any court.

“Political decisions shouldn’t be taken to courtrooms. I feel the processes have now moved forward,” he said, speaking to media outside the court.

He said that the president had dissolved the NA on the prime minister’s advice and within 90 days elections would be held. He said a letter would be sent to “former leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif” seeking “their names for the interim government”.

Responding to a question, he added that the army had no relevance with the current situation. “This matter relates to parliament,” he said.