Super elated opposition sees ‘victory of justice’

A super elated opposition on Thursday night celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision that struck down National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling of dismissing the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as President Arif Alvi’s order of dissolving the National Assembly.

Top opposition leaders praised the unanimous decision of the five-member bench of the apex court to declare the dismissal of the no-confidence motion by Deputy Speaker Suri contrary to the law and Constitution, saying that the verdict has saved not just the Constitution but also the state.

The Supreme Court started proceedings after Deputy Speaker Suri rejected the opposition’s no-confidence motion under Article 5 of the Constitution on Sunday. On Thursday, the court ordered the summoning of the National Assembly session on Saturday (tomorrow) for voting on the no-trust motion.

After the Supreme Court decision, leaders of the joint opposition gathered at the residence of the National Assembly Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif. After a short meeting there, they addressed a joint news conference, saying that the historic decision buried the “doctrine of necessity” forever.

“The future of Pakistan is secure as a result of the court’s decision,” declared Shehbaz, who is also the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “This is not a victory or defeat for anyone, it is a victory of the Constitution, Pakistan, the nation and the judiciary,” he added.

Shehbaz, most probably the joint opposition’s candidate for the post of prime minister in case the no-confidence motion succeeds, assured the nation that he would take everyone along in parliament for reforms in various sectors.

“We will form a government and serve the country through consultation,” Shehbaz told reporters. “The word ‘revenge’ is not in my dictionary but law will take its own course. We will take everyone along in parliament for reforms,” he added. “All surprises of Imran Khan turned out to be fake.”

On the occasion, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the opposition would now move towards restoration of democracy and reforms. “Now, we will move towards restoration of democracy. We will make reforms that are acceptable to all.”

Maulana Asad Mahmood of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) told the reporters that the nation must be saved from disintegration. He pledged that their government would ensure democratic, economic, and human rights of the people.

Akhtar Mengal of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) said that the people saw a ray of hope in the historic decision of the Supreme Court, adding that this ray would become a beacon of light in the time to come.

Also read: SC reinstates National Assembly, orders voting on no-confidence motion against PM Imran

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that all the opposition parties stood on the right side of history at the right time.

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Amir Haider Hoti said his party would not call the other side traitors.
Earlier, several opposition leaders took to the social media platforms to express their joy at the apex court’s ruling. “Democracy is the best revenge! Jiyay Bhutto! Jiyay Awam [people]! Pakistan Zindabad,” Bilawal tweeted immediately after the court verdict.

Former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari said in a statement that he would welcome Imran Khan as the National Assembly opposition leader after the election of Shehbaz as the next prime minister. “Hopefully, Imran Khan will play a democratic role as the leader of the opposition.”

Former prime minister and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif also took to Twitter, urging the restoration of the constitutional rights of parliament. “The deputy speaker's ruling was against the Constitution and law,” Sharif said in his tweet.

“It will not be enough to declare it null and void. The Constitution and the national interest require that the constitutional powers of parliament be restored immediately so that parliament can carry out its responsibilities and decisions in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” he added.

Shehbaz tweeted: “An epoch-making day! Mubarak to all [those] who supported, defended & campaigned for the supremacy of the Constitution. Today, politics of lies, deceit & allegations has been buried. People of Pakistan have won! God bless Pakistan.”

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, in her tweet, congratulated the nation, saying that the Supreme Court verdict upheld the supremacy of the Constitution and brought an end to the politics of those who violated the Constitution.

“Congratulations to the nation on the supremacy of the Constitution. The violators of the Constitution are finished forever. May Allah keep Pakistan shining brightly! Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Inshallah!” Maryam Nawaz said in her tweet.

“On Friday, we will observe ‘Youm-e-Tashakur’ to celebrate this victory. We will pray for our country to come out of the ongoing economic crisis,” JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman told reporters. Fazl also announced countrywide rallies on Friday (today).

PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal told reporters during an informal chat that the Supreme Court decision would change the fate of the nation, hoping that Pakistan would shine and thrive with the supremacy of the Constitution.

“I think this is a decision which will change the fate of Pakistan. Under the supremacy of the Constitution’s, God willing a shining Pakistan will emerge. If such decisions were given 50 years ago, we would not have faced this situation,” Iqbal told reporters.

When asked what advice he would give to PM Imran, Iqbal said that he should resign. “This is the advice to [Imran] Khan, he should resign, and seek apology from the nation,” the PML-N leader said.

“In connivance with the speaker and the deputy speaker they hatched an unconstitutional conspiracy. Now, they have been proven certified thieves, they committed theft in foreign funding [case], they stole elections, they even tried to steal the Constitution,” he added.

Senior PPP parliamentarian Khursheed Shah welcomed the Supreme Court decision. “In the year of the 75th anniversary, on platinum jubilee of the country’s [independence], a historic decision has come from the Supreme Court, which has never been given before in Pakistan,” Shah said.

The PPP leader emphasised that the unanimous apex court verdict would strengthen democracy. “I think, the Supreme Court has created history … justice is strengthened and lies, deceit, and fraud were defeated. Justice won,” he added.

PML-N leader Khurram Dastagir said that the top court upheld Pakistan’s respect. “The Constitution is not just a piece of paper,” he added.

Senator Kamran Murtaza, who is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court, said that either the prime minister should resign or face the vote of no trust.

(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)