In a historic verdict, the Pakistani Supreme Court on Thursday shattered all the convoluted moves of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to be in power illegally and unconstitutionally.
The bench of five judges unanimously declared the ruling of the deputy speaker to block the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan. The court also declared that the dissolution of the house by the Pakistani President on the advice of Imran Khan as null and void.
Restoring the Pakistan National Assembly, the court ordered the speaker to summon the house on April 9 and allow the vote on the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, setting the clock back to April 3.
“If the no-confidence motion against the prime minister succeeds, then the assembly will appoint the new prime minister," the top court said in its order adding that if the no-trust motion fails, the government will continue to carry out its affairs as usual.
The apex court’s decision implies that Khan as well as his cabinet will bite the dust on April 9, unless the premier resorts to yet another round of unconstitutional moves, including street violence to prevent the inevitable.
The opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari shared his triumph moment on a Twitter post.
“Democracy is the best revenge! Jiya Bhutto! Jiya Awam! Pakistan Zindabad,” Bilawal wrote.
Democracy is the best revenge!
Jiya Bhutto!
Jiya Awam!
Pakistan Zindabad.— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 7, 2022
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter and PML-N leader wrote in her post: “Congratulations to Pakistan for getting rid of enemy of people, most incompetent, most incompetent and most failed government. Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds. Congratulations to the nation on the supremacy of the Constitution. The work of the violators of the constitution is done forever. May Allah keep Pakistan shining brightly. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif Inshallah.”
Celebrations 🥇🎊🎉
The King 🙌
ماشاءاللّہ pic.twitter.com/1621bcRxZC— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 7, 2022
Reacting to the verdict, the Pakistani lawyer Reema Omar said in her post that ,”faith in the sanctity of the constitution strengthened, doctrine of necessity remains buried – turns out it wasn’t “idealism” and “impractical” to have this expectation after all.”
Faith in the sanctity of the Constitution strengthened, doctrine of necessity remains buried – turns out it wasn’t “idealism” and “impractical” to have this expectation afterall ❤️
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) April 7, 2022
“History in making; may this be the turning point for a democratic, prosperous, peaceful federation,” said Pakistani columnist Mohammad Taqi.
History in making; may this be the turning point for a democratic, prosperous, peaceful federation#Pakistan
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) April 7, 2022
Earlier in the day, the top court of Pakistan had observed that the ruling of the deputy speaker that resulted in the dissolution of the assembly and a subsequent constitutional crisis was wrong.
Before the court went for a break, it called the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to the rostrum who told the court that if the judiciary acknowledges that the ruling of the deputy speaker was “unconstitutional”, then it should restore the Assembly.
The apex court asked Sharif that the opposition has been demanding fresh elections and now that they have the opportunity, why are they against it?
According to GEO news, Shahbaz said that the election has been “stolen” and laws of the constitution have been “violated”; to which one of the judges said that all laws that have been violated will be restored.
There is no immediate reaction from Imran Khan who has already lost. His coalition allies and more than 20 members of his party already decided to vote against him. In a 342-member assembly, the opposition has claimed to have about 200 members – enough to defeat Imran Khan.
Also read: Pak Supreme Court likely to find fault with Pak Deputy Speaker’s ruling on no-confidence motion
