KARACHI:
If we want to strengthen our state then the rule of law must be upheld. No state can run its functions smoothly in the absence of the rule of law. On 8 March, a united opposition submitted a resolution of no-confidence before the National Assembly against the sitting Prime Minister Imran Khan. Then on 27 March, Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the nation saying that a foreign country had threatened him and his government. He further narrated that this “unnamed” country had also wanted to dismiss his government to initiate a regime change.
The PM further contented that the letter that contained all this was sent on 7 March and the no-confidence resolution was subsequently filed on 8 March. But irony is that this letter was disclosed for the first time on 27 March during the PM’s speech in Islamabad. During the vote that took place on 3 April, Fawad Chaudhry astonished everyone by saying that the no-confidence motion was against Article 5 of the Constitution and that it was a result of external conspiracy. He further asked for a ruling from the Deputy Speaker. It was perplexing that the Deputy Speaker agreed to this and dismissed the motion without hearing the opposition. Further, the situation got even stranger when the PM announce that he had submitted an advice to the President for dissolving the National Assembly right after the ruling of Deputy Speaker.
Supporters of the PTI are of the view that any action performed by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker cannot be challenged in any court under Article 69. But the Supreme Court has taken a suo motu notice of this, and the united opposition is contesting the case. It is hoped that the top court will pull our country out of this constitutional crisis and play their role in maintenance of peace and tranquility in our country.
Raja Yousaf Mehmood
Attock
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2022.
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