On Sunday, Pakistan’s ailing Prime Minister Imran Khan struck back by receiving presidential approval for the dissolution of Parliament, a move denounced by the Opposition as “unconstitutional.” The latter has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.
Following the dismissal of the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, the Pakistan Supreme Court held a suo motu hearing on the subject later on Sunday, prohibiting all state institutions from pursuing any “extra-constitutional” actions. The case was tried by a three-judge panel led by Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Justice Umar Ata Bandial.
On April 4, there will be a Supreme court of Pakistan appearance
In the current political situation, Chief Justice Bandial stated that public order must be maintained, and no state functionary shall take any “extra-constitutional” steps, adding that all orders and actions taken by the Prime Minister and President regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court’s order. The hearing has been postponed until Monday by the Supreme Court.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker Suri denied the Opposition’s no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Khan, calling it a violation of Pakistan’s Constitution and regulations. “The vote of no confidence should be conducted in accordance with the country’s Constitution and procedures. “I reject the no-confidence motion since it is not as laid forth by the Law Minister,” Mr. Suri ruled, despite loud protests from Opposition members.
After opposition parties filed a no-confidence motion against Speaker Asad Qaiser, Mr. Suri presided over the key session.
Unconstitutional
The stunned Opposition labeled the entire procedure unlawful, and its legislators refused to leave the Parliament House grounds, which were guarded by security officials. Mr. Khan was generally expected to lose a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, which was brought forward by a coalition of Opposition MPs, including more than a dozen defectors from his own party.
Mr. Khan, who had virtually lost his majority in the 342-member National Assembly, delivered a brief address to the nation, announcing that he had urged that the House be dissolved and new elections are held. He congratulated the country on the defeat of the no-trust motion, stating that the Deputy Speaker had “rejected the attempt to change the regime [and] the foreign plot.”
President Alvi has been advised to dissolve the National Assembly, according to Mr. Khan. According to Pakistani media, general elections will be held within 90 days. “Get ready for the elections. There will be no corrupt powers deciding the country’s future. The procedure for the next elections and the caretaker administration would begin after the assemblies are dissolved, according to Mr. Khan.
Later, President Arif Alvi’s office announced that the National Assembly had been dissolved on the Prime Minister’s advice. The federal cabinet has also been dissolved, according to Fawad Chaudhry, Mr. Khan’s close ally and former communications minister. Mr. Khan, on the other hand, will continue to serve as interim Prime Minister.
Legal action is being taken
“We are going to the Supreme Court to oppose the Deputy Speaker’s verdict and the Prime Minister’s advice to dissolve parliament,” said Shehbaz Sharif, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. Mr. Khan and all others involved in the “plot” against the country, according to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, are guilty of high treason and should be tried for desecrating the Constitution.
“Imran Khan’s actions are against the law. We’re talking to our lawyers about it. The Speaker has also done work that is anti-democratic. With this move, Imran Khan has exposed himself. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, remarked, “He is fleeing against the no-trust motion seeing defeat.” He then tweeted, “We call on ALL institutions to safeguard, support, defend, and enforce Pakistan’s constitution.”
Pakistan’s powerful army has stated that it has “absolutely nothing” to do with the country’s current political predicament. The remarks were made by military spokesman Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar in the aftermath of the President’s rejection of a no-confidence resolution and subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly. Maj. Gen. Iftikhar stated, “The army has absolutely nothing to do with what happened in the National Assembly today.”
In areas of security and foreign policy, the mighty Pakistan Army, which has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its 73-year history, has wielded significant power. Last week, Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Prime Minister Khan at least twice.
Following the day’s spectacular turn of events, Chief Justice Bandial came at the apex court, which was particularly opened on a Sunday. According to the apex court’s spokeswoman, the top judge has taken suo motu note of the current situation in the country. The Joint Opposition has prepared a petition to overturn Deputy Speaker Suri’s decision.
The “entire procure by the deputy speaker and the instruction by the premier to dissolve the legislature was unlawful,” according to leading constitutional lawyer Salman Akram Raja. He stated that the entire dispute would be decided by the Supreme Court.
The council would also be unlawful, according to Raja, because the prime minister cannot give advice to the assembly after a no-confidence motion has been filed against him in parliament.
The acts of the prime minister and deputy speaker, according to Supreme Court Bar President Ahsan Bhoon, was against the Constitution, and “they should be tried for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution.” He requested that the chief justice take suo moto action against the blatant violation.
On March 8, the joint opposition submitted a motion of no confidence in Khan, accusing him of mismanaging the economy. Khan has denied the allegations and claims that he is being targeted by a “international conspiracy” with the help of prominent Opposition leaders. Khan has been fighting depleted foreign exchange reserves and double-digit inflation for months.
After the National Assembly deputy speaker foiled their attempt to remove Khan’s administration through a no-confidence motion, Khan told PTI leaders that the Opposition parties appeared ‘taken aback.’
“I want to remind you everyone that I warned you not to panic yesterday evening… “The Opposition is still trying to figure out what happened to them,” he remarked.
Khan was elected in 2018 on the pledge of establishing a “Naya Pakistan.” In 2023, his government was anticipated to finish its full 5-year tenure. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan fired Punjab province, Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, on Sunday, deferring the election of a new provincial chief minister.