PM Imran advises President Alvi to dissolve National Assembly

Opposition terms dismissal of no-confidence vote unconstitutional, urges CJP to act

ISLAMABAD:

In an unexpected turn of events, following the surprise dismissal of the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly session, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday that the president has been suggested to dissolve the assemblies and move towards early elections.

In his address, the premier congratulated the nation on the dismissal of the no-confidence vote against him citing that the opposition was moved by a foreign-funded conspiracy and the speaker had thwarted the “attempt of changing the regime and the foreign conspiracy".

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Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry took to his official Twitter handle to announce that PM Imran had formally sent a request to the president to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58 of the Constitution.

وزیر اعظم نے آئین کے آرٹیکل 58 کے تحت صدر مملکت کو قومی اسمبلی تحلیل کرنے کی ایڈوائس بھیج دی ہے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 3, 2022

 

Prime Minsiter Imran's comments came after National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion submitted by the joint opposition to dislodge the PM terming it "unconstitutional" under Article 5.

The speaker furthered that under Article 5, “loyalty to the State is a basic duty of every citizen and obedience to the Constitution and law is the inviolable obligation of every citizen wherever he may be and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.”

The ruling read by Suri prompted strong protests from the opposition benches who surrounded the desk of the speaker to record their protest.

Suri said the resolution could not be voted upon as it was allegedly supported by a foreign power and violated Article 5. Suri, who chaired the session in the absence of Asad Qaiser, also adjourned the session indefinitely.

'Violation of Constitution'

Terming the deputy speaker’s ruling dismissing the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the government has violated the Constitution.

"The united opposition is not leaving Parliament,” the PPP leader stated, adding that they would be taking the matter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The PPP chairman urged all institutions to "protect, uphold, defend and implement the Constitution of Pakistan".

Government has violated constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. The united opposition is not leaving parliament. Our lawyers are on their way to Supreme Court. We call on ALL institutions to protect, uphold, defend & implement the constitution of Pakistan 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/sThqng0SI5

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 3, 2022

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif termed Imran Khan a traitor of the Constitution and democracy.

Shehbaz said that Article 6 is now applicable on “Imran Niazi and his followers for openly violating the Constitution”.

The opposition leader said that there was no government in the country at the moment, claiming that it has been proved that the premier has lost the confidence of the National Assembly.

“The country is occupied by an unconstitutional gang,” he added, questioning that if Imran Khan is not the prime minister then how can he use his constitutional powers.

He said the Article 5 was cited that says that the Constitution will be upheld under all circumstances. The Constitution was attacked to ensure the “personal power of one man” the PML-N leader said.

Shehbaz Sharif referred to the premier’s actions as anarchic and urged the chief justice of Pakistan to save the country from crisis.

“It is hoped that the Supreme Court will ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and fulfil its duty to protect the country from this violation of the Constitution,” the leader added.