Opposition cries foul after dismissal of no-trust vote

PPP, PML-N members threaten to move Supreme Court after president approves advice to dissolve assemblies

ISLAMABAD:

Members of the joint opposition strongly protested the dismissal of the no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, as well as the premier's suggestion to dissolve legislative assemblies.

Following the session of the lower house, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz took to her official Twitter handle to state that no one should be allowed to “distort” the Constitution to save their seat.

اپنی کرسی کو بچانے کی خاطر آئینِ پاکستان کا حلیہ بگاڑنے کی اجازت کسی کو نہیں دی جانی چاہیے۔ اس جرم پر اگر اس پاگل اور جنونی شخص کو سزا نا دی گئی تو آج کے بعد اس ملک میں جنگل کا قانون چلے گا!

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 3, 2022

 

Dubbing the premier “crazy and obsessive”, the PML-N leader said that it will be the “law of the jungle” in the country if Imran was not punished for his today's actions.

Talking to media personnel outside the NA, PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the prime minister was a traitor who had lost the support of the majority and therefore, could not dissolve assemblies nor could he dismiss the no-trust move through Suri.

Calling Imran’s move “unconstitutional”, she said the premier's actions will be taken to the Supreme Court. Marriyum also told the nation to be ready for a “surprise” from the opposition.

Pakistan People’s Party leader Sherry Rehman also said that a prime minister who had lost his majority could not dissolve the assembly.

“All actions today are unconstitutional, illegal and will take the country straight into a dangerous constitutional crisis,” she tweeted.

Read Deputy speaker dismisses no-trust motion against Imran, terms it against Article 5

She stated that the opposition did not accept a “minority” prime minister’s decision or the speaker’s ruling.

A Prime Minister who has lost his majority cannot dissolve the assembly. All actions today are unconstitutional , illegal and will take the country straight into a dangerous constitutional crisis. We do not accept a minority PM’s decision, nor a Speaker’s ruling who is under VONC pic.twitter.com/mUHFpaeb1l

— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 3, 2022

 

PPP's Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar took to Twitter to condemn the ruling party’s action, terming it a "blatant violation" of the Constitution and the rules.

What the govt has done today is blatant violation of the constitution and the rules. Supreme Court cannot and should not sit by as a mere spectator. Chief Justice should immediately take to the bench and save the country from a constitutional crisis!

— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@Mustafa_PPP) April 3, 2022

 

The opposition member added that the apex court cannot and should not sit by as a mere spectator. “The chief justice should immediately take to the bench and save the country from a constitutional crisis!” he added.

PPP member Aseef Bhutto Zardari said that “the selected PM just ran away from Parliament, a Parliament he has lost his majority in”.

The selected PM just ran away from Parliament. A Parliament he has lost his majority in.

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) April 3, 2022

 

“The speaker of the National Assembly’s unconstitutional and undemocratic holding of proceedings today will be taken up in court,” she stated, adding that the opposition’s next stop was the Supreme Court.

The speaker of the National Assembly’s unconstitutional and undemocratic holding of proceedings today will be taken up in court. Next stop Supreme Court

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) April 3, 2022

 

Chairperson of the National Democratic Movement Mohsin Dawar called the move a “historical low in” parliamentary history, which showed the “fragility” of parliamentary democracy.

This is a historical low in our parliamentary history. This shows the fragility of our parliamentary democracy. The Deputy Speaker and the Prime Minister along with his team should be tried under Article 6. Supreme Court should step in to resolve this constitutional crisis.

— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) April 3, 2022

 

“The Deputy Speaker and the Prime Minister along with his team should be tried under Article 6,” he said, urging the apex court to step in and resolve the “constitutional crisis”.

PML-N member and MNA Ahsan Iqbal hoped for the "unprecedented humiliation" of PM Imran, claiming that Imran did not "possess even an iota" of grace or honour.

Decency, grace & honour are great virtues but Imran Niazi showing to the whole world that he doesn’t posses even an iota of them. Having lost majority in National Assembly chooses to bulldoze constitution. He will be defeated with unprecedented humiliation in history Insha Allah!

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) April 3, 2022