The Supreme Court will resume hearing of the case filed by the joint opposition over the “unconstitutional” act of the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri by disallowing the vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial had taken a suo motu notice of the constitutional crisis that erupted after the incident. The CJP maintained in a written judgment issued during Sunday’s hearing that his fellow judges had approached him and had expressed concern over the situation.
On Monday, the apex court heard the arguments by PPP’s counsel Farooq H Naek who contended that Suri’s ruling in Sunday’s session was meant to deliberately avoid the voting process in the Assembly.
CJP Bandial directed Naek to argue how the deputy speaker’s ruling is illegitimate.
The CJP asked how the speaker could give a ruling on whether the motion was legal or illegal. “Does the speaker have no authority to reject the no-confidence motion?” he asked.
“Even if the speaker cites Article 5 of the Constitution, the no-confidence motion cannot be rejected,” the CJP said.
The CJP then asked to what extent does the speaker have constitutional protection under Article 69? “We want to make a decision sooner than you,” he said.
Naek requested the court to wrap up the case and reserve the verdict.
However, the CJP remarked that the court has to hear other respondents as well. After this, the court adjourned the hearing till 12 pm today.
