PAK SC DRAWS RED LINES
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Sunday barred all state institutions from taking any "unconstitutional" steps after the dismissal of the noconfidence vote in the National Assembly against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the subsequent approval of the president to dissolve the House at the advice of the embattled premier.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and the president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order as he adjourned for one day the hearing of the high-profile case.
Chief Justice Bandial took notice of the political situation and a three member bench held the initial hearing despite the weekend and issued notices to all the respondents, including President Alvi and deputy Speaker of the NA, Suri.
The court ordered all parties not to take any "unconstitutional" measures and adjourned the hearing until Monday. Chief Justice Bandial said all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and the president regarding the dissolution of the NA will be subject to the court's order.
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the ruling given in the National Assembly deputy speaker for the dismissal of the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Khan was "final" and could not be challenged in any court of law.
Talking to the media outside the SC, the close aide of Khan said that the NA deputy speaker's ruling came after completion of the constitutional process over the no-trust motion.
Ahsan Bhoon, President Supreme Court Bar, said that the action of the prime minister and deputy speaker was against the constitution and "they should be prosecuted for treason under Article 6 of the constitution.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also filed a plea asking the court to declare the ruling of the deputy speaker as unconstitutional along with the parliament’s dissolution.
CJ Umar Ata Bandial said all orders and actions initiated by the PM and the President about the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court’s order as he adjourned for one day the hearing of the high-profile case.