SC nullifies deputy speaker's ruling and restores NA, orders voting on no-trust on April 9

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday nullifies the ruling of National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri on the voting of the no-confidence and restores the National Assembly.

The court ordered Speaker Asad Qaisar to summon the session and hold voting on the no-confidence on April 9 under the Article 95. It ruled that the new prime minister should be elected immediately if the no-confidence motion succeeds. "The government cannot stop any member from casting the vote. The voting on the no-confidence motion should be held on April 9," the court ruled, adding that the prime minister was not capable of dissolving the assembly.

The court ruled that all steps taken after the deputy speaker ruling were illegal. A five-member larger 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, heard the case.

After the verdict, the opposition workers chanted slogans of 'Go Niazi, go Niazi'.

Earlier, the court had reserved the judgment on the suo motu of the situation arising after the ruling of

During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Atta Bandial remarked that apparently the Article 95 was violated the ruling of motion seems to be wrong. He observed that it will have to be observed what will happen next and the court will announce the verdict.

Justice Ejazul Hassan observed that the prime minister had dissolved the assembly, taking the benefit of the situation. "Had not the assembly dissolved, the House could nullify the ruling of the deputy speaker," he remarked.

Imtiaz Siddiqui, counsel for PM Imran Khan, contended the deputy speaker had relied on the National Security Committee. "The House proceedings are beyond the power of the judiciary. The court should order the parliament to clean its filth," he added.

During the hearing, meeting minutes of Parliamentary Committee for National Security were presented in court. The committee was briefed that consequences will not be good if the no-confidence motion succeeds.

Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan contended that all the proceedings, including the no-confidence motion, are carried out as per law. "The court should decide to which extent the parliamentary proceedings can be reviewed," he added.

He added that if the court could intervene if the speaker declares a lose the winner. "I am not defending the ruling and my concern is the new elections," he added.

CJP Umar Atta Bandial remarked that the court wants to listen to the attorney general about the real issue of the dissolution of the assembly.

Ali Zafar, counsel for President Arif Alvi, contended that the constitution can only be defended as per constitution. "The parliament cannot interfere in the matters of the judiciary and the judiciary cannot interfere in the matters of the parliament," he stated.