A petition to overturn the decision of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, who had previously stopped voting on the no-confidence motion against the prime minister, was denied by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The case was heard by a three-member bench consisting of CJP Umar Atta Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar. All political parties have been asked to remain peaceful and refrain from taking any “unconstitutional” actions that could jeopardise law and order.
The court has decided to take notice of the situation, according to the chief judge. The Attorney General, President Alvi, and the NA’s deputy speaker were all served with notice by the court. The hearing has been postponed until tomorrow by the Supreme Court (Monday).
Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Umar Ata Bandial, took suo motu notice of the country’s political situation on Sunday. After President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly, the top judge was appointed to the Supreme Court.
The development comes after opposition leaders demanded that National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s “unconstitutional” ruling be reviewed.
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, reacting to the verdict, claimed that parliament was a separate institution and that the National Assembly’s decision could not be challenged in any court.
“Courtrooms should not be used to make political decisions.” Outside the court, he spoke to the media and said, “I believe the processes have now moved forward.”
On the advice of the prime minister, the president dissolved the National Assembly, and elections would be held within 90 days, he said. He said he would send a letter to “former Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif” requesting “their names for the interim government.”
He added, in response to a question, that the army had no bearing on the current situation. “This is a matter of parliament,” he explained.
