No other party, no other PM: Celebs oppose Supreme Court's verdict

In a landmark unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday set aside National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling to dismiss the no-trust resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the subsequent dissolution of the lower house of parliament by President Arif Alvi on the premier’s advice. The 5-0 ruling ordered parliament to resume on Saturday (tomorrow), no later than 10:30am, stating that the session could not be tabled without the conclusion of the no-trust motion against PM Imran.

“It is declared that the resolution was pending and subsisting at all times, and continues to so remain pending and subsisting.”

Hours later, the Supreme Court's verdict was both praised and criticised on social media, with celebrities, who had previously been tweeting in Imran Khan's favour, airing their disapproval. The PM, however, said he would address the nation on Friday (today) after chairing a cabinet meeting. He assured that he would continue to fight till the last ball.

Zara Noor Abbas was quick to declare on her Instagram Stories, “I don’t accept any party other than PTI, nor any Prime Minister other than Imran Khan for this country.” Her husband and actor Asad Siddiqui, on the contrary, held, “No one can go against the constitution. A fair decision by the Supreme Court.”

Singer Haroon Shahid tweeted rather hopefully, “Respect the decision. Let’s move on to the next battle. If we lose on Saturday, we will rise again on Sunday. Either you give up or you plan your next move. Pakistan Zindabad, Imran Khan Zindabad.” In a follow up tweet, he pointed out that it took over 12 provincial level parties to dislodge a national level party, yet, there still isn’t any clarity on whether these parties have a remedy for inflation. He then asserted, “To all champions of democracy, a gentle reminder: Fazlur Rehman said, ‘If assembly isn’t restored, we will not stand by the decision,’ while Imran Khan said, ‘Whatever the decision may be, we will stand by it.’ You guys are as fake as it gets! Now go enjoy your ‘democracy’.”

Singer Quratulain Baloch called for a protest against the verdict. She wrote on the microblogging site, “Can we all come out and reject this decision? What kind of democracy is this where the people’s votes have no value over the MNAs who can easily sell out, both their souls and their country mean? I stand with Imran Khan and for your own sake, Stand up for yourself.”

Shaan Shahid, who had tweeted before the verdict, “Early elections the way forward. Supreme Court will break the political deadlock. Pakistan moving forward,” commented with a queen emoticon under QB’s tweet.

Junoon guitarist Salman Ahmad went on to call the decision a “sham, a mockery of justice and a sinister plot to embolden convicted criminals to begin their loot and plunder.”

Nevertheless, 'Absolutely Yes' is trending on Twitter with many, mostly lauding the Supreme Court for protecting the Constitution of Pakistan. "The Supreme Court’s decision has buried the politics of those violating the Constitution," Maryam Nawaz has said. 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.

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