The Supreme Court of Pakistan is scheduled to hold a hearing on the suo motu notice taken by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on the constitutional crisis that erupted with Pakistan’s National Assembly deputy speaker deeming the no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan “unconstitutional.”
“Any orders and actions that Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly shall be subject to the order of this court,” CJP Bandial had said taking the notice, Pakistan media reported.
Later, the SC restrained state institutions from taking any extra-constitutional steps and directed them to act strictly in accordance with the Constitution, besides asking all political forces of the country to remain peaceful.
Sunday’s hearing was attended by the Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan, the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Ahsan Bhoon and other counsels representing different parties, The News reported.
During the hearing on Sunday evening, the CJP issued notices to the Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan and the Ministry of Defence secretary while directing the latter and the Interior secretary to submit a report regarding the law and order situation.
The apex court also directed all the political parties involved in the process of the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly and other political forces to become respondents in the case, while directing them to observe the law and maintain peace and public order.
The notice issued to the AGP stated the constitutionality of the decision of the deputy speaker to dismiss the motion of no confidence on the basis of Article 5 of the Constitution.
Similarly, the court also issued notice to Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council to assist the Court in these suo moto proceedings and the Constitution Petitions filed under Article 184(3).
Commenting on yesterday’s developments, CJP Bandial had said that the law and order situation should be maintained, a report by Geo News said.
“This is an important matter and a hearing will be held tomorrow,” he had said Sunday, barring all political parties and government departments to take advantage of the ongoing situation. Regarding the Opposition’s petition, he said that the hearing should be fixed for PPP’s petition.
As per the report, CJP Bandial proposed to make President Alvi a party in this case and said that a hearing will be held tomorrow in this regard after the hearing of the 63A presidential reference.
The top judge further directed all state agencies and provincial law enforcement agencies to maintain the law and order situation in the country.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that Punjab Assembly’s session was adjourned because of the poor law and order situation in the country.
Meanwhile, Justice Bandial added that the court cannot interfere much in the proceeding of the National Assembly; however, he said the court is aware of the situation there.
He also mentioned that “symbolic voting” was conducted by the Opposition leaders, highlighting that Ayaz Sadiq conducted the voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister and over 200 members of the assembly voted in favour of the motion.
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