Body blow to Imran Khan: Pakistan SC restores National Assembly; orders Speaker to call session on April 9 to hold no-confidence vote

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 7

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously rejected the bypassing of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly on Sunday against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

The Court also held that the dissolution of the Assembly was unconstitutional.

This sets the stage for a fresh no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on April 9 at a time when the political power base of Punjab assembly was poised on a razor’s edge.

In a meeting held at a private hotel in Lahore, the opposition claimed that 199 legislators had “elected” Shahbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shahbaz Sharif as the Chief Minister.

Supporters of Pakistani opposition parties celebrate after Supreme Court decision, in Islamabad, on Thursday, April 7, 2022. AP/PTI

India has declined to comment on the political turmoil in Pakistan saying it is an “internal matter” of that country but noted that it is keeping an eye on the developments in Islamabad. “It is their internal matter. I do not have any comment to make on this. We are keeping an eye on it but we do not comment on internal matters (of any country),” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

During the hearing itself, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial noted that the Deputy Speaker’s ruling is, prima facie, a violation of Article 95. “The real question at hand is what happens next. We have to look at national interest,” he had said.

Pakistan began undergoing a political upheaval after the Deputy Speaker of National Assembly blocked a no-confidence motion against Khan. Subsequently, Pakistan President Arif Alvi dissolved the House and endorsed Khan’s recommendation to hold fresh elections in 90 days.

Pakistan’s opposition parties immediately approached the Supreme Court and challenged the Deputy Speaker’s decision to dismiss the no-confidence motion.

Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bandial headed a five-member bench and heard the matter for four consecutive days beginning with the day the no-confidence motion was dismissed.