Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday declared National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling passed during a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan null and void, terming it unconstitutional.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, and including Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail announced a verdict reserved earlier the day.
The top court also restored National Assembly and ordered voting on motion against PM Imran. The court also ordered to summon the NA session on Saturday (April 9).
The court took a suo motu notice on the legality of the current situation in the country following the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and the subsequent dissolution of the NA by President Arif Alvi on the prime minister's advice.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were also provided opportunity to speak during the hearing.
On Sunday, the SC had taken suo motu notice regarding current political situation which emerged after President Dr Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve National Assembly.
On April 3, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismissed the no-trust move against Prime Minister Imran Khan, terming it a contradiction of Article 5 of the Constitution.
Later, on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Alvi dissolve assemblies.
In an address to the nation, soon after NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri dismissed no-trust move against the premier, PM Imran said that he had advised President Alvi to dissolve assemblies.
