In a stunning setback for cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday overturned Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s decision to dismiss a no-confidence motion against him, ordering the National Assembly to be restored.
Mr. Suri, a member of Mr. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, dismissed the no-confidence resolution against the Premier on April 3, stating that it was tied to a “foreign conspiracy” to destabilize the government and hence unconstitutional. At the suggestion of Prime Minister Khan, who had effectively lost the majority, President Ari Alvi dissolved the National Assembly minutes afterward.
The controversial order by the Deputy Speaker was declared illegal by Chief Justice Bandial, who is leading a five-member Bench that includes Justices Ijazul Ahsan, Mohammad Ali Mazhar Miankhel, Munib Akhtar, and Jamal Khan Mandokhel. The bench also deemed the dissolution of Parliament unlawful in a unanimous decision.
The Court of Appeal reinstated Parliament and found Mr. Khan’s advice to President Alvi to dissolve the Assembly unlawful. The Speaker was directed by the court to call the Assembly session on April 9 at 10 a.m. to organize the no-confidence vote.
After some members of Mr. Khan’s own party and a major coalition partner defected, the Opposition claims it has 172 votes in the 340-seat House to unseat him.
Security has been enhanced after Supreme Court’s Order
The apex court’s security has been tightened up. Outside the courthouse, riot police were on the scene. Chief Justice Bandial stated during the hearing that the Deputy Speaker’s decision was prima facie a violation of Article 95.
Apart from leading lawyers representing various parties, the court summoned Shehbaz Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the main opposition leader, to the rostrum and inquired about his thoughts on the way forward in the wake of the dissolution of the Assembly and the announcement of new elections.
Mr. Shehbaz questioned how opposition leaders could participate in the election after being branded “traitors.” He left the decision to the court, but requested that the rule of law be followed, saying that “we cannot face even our family after being labeled traitors.”
He was referring to the Deputy Speaker’s finding that the no-confidence motion was connected to a “foreign scheme.” Following the court’s decision against the Deputy Speaker, Parliament is likely to reassemble and vote on Mr. Khan’s no-confidence motion.
The newest political turmoil has spread to Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, which is home to 60 percent of the country’s 220 million inhabitants and where Mr. Khan’s ally for the chief provincial minister was denied the position on Wednesday after his political opponents voted in their own candidate.