SC adjourns suo motu notice of NA deputy speaker's ruling on no-confidence motion till tomorrow

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court adjourned till Wednesday the hearing of the suo motu notice of National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

During the hearing, counsels for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) completed their arguments. The PTI lawyers will start their arguments on Wednesday.

Hearing the arguments, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial remarked that the constitution cannot be made ineffective through the rules. The court also sought the deputy speaker order issued on March 31.

Giving arguments, Raza Rabbani said that the law minister had talked about the Article 5 and levelled the allegations without any court orders or proofs. "The court should seek the alleged threat letter, minutes of the National Security Committee and declare the deputy speaker's ruling null and void in the short order and restore the assembly," he demanded.

The CJP remarked that the court also want early verdict, but would hear the stance of all parties.

Makhdoom Ali Khan, counsel for the PML-N, stated that the judiciary could review the illegal and unconstitutional step. "Under sub clause 1 of the Article 95 of the constitution, the no-confidence motion bearing the signatures of 152 members was submitted. Nothing has been told that the deputy speaker gave the ruling on what grounds," he contended, adding that the speaker had no power to dismiss the no-confidence motion after being submitted. "The speaker will have to hold voting all costs."

He contended that a person cannot sideline a majority of the House. "Appointing the prime minister as an interim prime minister is not as per constitution. The court, if considers fit, can get a briefing from secret agencies," he added.

At this, the CJP remarked that the court only wants to look into the constitutional issue. "The court is only focusing on the ruling of the deputy speaker," he ruled.

A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising of Justice Ejazul Ahsan, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, is hearing the case.

On Monday, the CJP had remarked that the court would issue a 'reasonable order on the issue', but the hearing was adjourned after Farooq H Naek, the counsel of PPP and other opposition parties, presented his arguments.

On Sunday, CJP Bandial had taken suo motu notice of the situation arising after the deputy speaker's dismissal of the no-confidence motion against the prime minister.