Speaker’s ruling can’t be challenged in court: Fawad

Says there is no no-confidence motion in parliament after the dissolution of assembly

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday said the ruling given in the National Assembly for the rejection of the no-trust motion earlier in the day was “final” and could not be challenged in any court of law.

The statement comes after the Supreme Court took notice of the deepening political chaos and barred all state institutions from taking any “extra-constitutional” steps in the wake of the dismissal of the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

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The protracted feud between the government and the joint opposition over the no-confidence motion plunged deeper into chaos after the president approved dissolving the assembly at the advice of the premier.

It was the scenario that many politicians, as well as legal experts, had dreaded and raised alarms ahead of the vote that the ruling party may take recourse to “extra-constitutional” steps, including the move that the PTI government resorted to on Sunday.
 

Elections to follow

Talking to the media outside the Supreme Court building, Fawad maintained that the NA speaker’s ruling came after the completion of the constitutional process over the no-trust motion.

Also read: President Arif Alvi dissolves National Assembly on PM Imran’s advice

“Currently, there is no no-confidence motion in the parliament,” he said, adding that President Dr Arif Alvi had dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of PM Imran.

He said the election would be held in the country within 90 days.“A letter is being written to the former opposition leader [in the NA] to seek their names for the interim government,” the PTI leader added.

He said the opposition parties seemed to be afraid of the elections. Their fear for the early election was beyond understanding, he added.

SC takes notice

Meanwhile, taking notice of the matter, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that public order must be maintained and no state functionary shall take any “extra-constitutional” step in the prevailing political situation.

CJ Bandial also said that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order.

The chief justice further said the law and order situation in the country should not deteriorate, instructing all political parties to act responsibly.

The top court, after issuing notices to Attorney General Pakistan and others on the matter, adjourned the hearing till Monday (today).

The apex court also directed the AGP to determine the constitutionality of the NA speaker’s ruling.
 

‘Foreign-funded regime change thwarted’

In his address after the president dissolved the National Assembly following the dismissal of the no-trust vote, PM Imran congratulated the nation on the development 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".

Imran told the nation to prepare for early elections. “No foreign power or corrupt elements, but only you have to decide for this country,” he said while addressing the nation. Imran said that after the dissolution of the assemblies, the process for a caretaker government will commence now.

(With Input from APP)