ISLAMABAD : The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) is continuing hearing into deputy speaker’s ruling case which subsequently resulted in rejection of no confidence motion filed by the joint opposition against prime minister, Imran Khan, on April 3, 2022. The same ruling prompted prime minister , Imran Khan, who within minutes after the deputy speaker’s ruling sent an advice to president , Dr Arif Alvi, for dissolution of the national assembly. The deputy speaker’s action of giving ruling and rejecting no confidence motion has thrown the country into a constitutional turmoil . Fearing some unconstitutional step in the situation arisen out of the deputy speaker’s action , the SCP took its suo moto notice . The apex court is hearing the case on daily basis .
On Wednesday , Babar Awan , the counsel of the prime minister, argued on the merit of the case. He said the prime minister had the authority to send advice to the president under the constitution for dissolution of the national assembly after the ruling. He submitted before the court that the Imran Khan government had received a threatening letter which said Pakistan can face hard time if no confidence against the prime minister fails. The court inquired from Babar Awan what decision was taken on the cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister on the izsue and if the government took any action against those who were tagged as traitors ?
Babar Awan told the court that the government did not take any action against those who were party to the letter written to Pakistan . He claimed that prime minister did not divulge some details of the letter in question to care for the national interests. The chief justice, who is heading the 5- member bence, asked Babar Awan to restrict his arguments to the issue and close it if he has nothing to say on the issue in hand . Babar Awan said the speaker and deputy speaker could not be a silent spectators on the issue of foreign intervention in Pakistan’s affairs. The court snubbed Babar Awan for going wavered from the merit of the case.
Ali Zafar , the counsel of the president , in his arguments said the court can not question the ruling given by the deputy speaker . He quoted relevant provisions of the constitution in support of his arguments. The chief justice asked Ali Zafar if the voting on no confidence falls in rules of business of the lower house and his answer was in affirmation . Ali Zafar’s main focus was to persuade the court that the speaker or in this case deputy speaker has absolute power in the lower house and the court can not question this authority of the parliament. He, however, could not satisfy the court to its question if the court can question unconstitutional act of the speaker . To this key question took the position that the constitution was silent on it and it could be taken as a gap in the constitution . Attorney Journal , Khalid Javed Khan , will give his arguments in the case today (Thursday)
The court can give a short order in the case today (Thursday ).
