A five-judge bench of Pakistan’s Supreme Court has delivered a unanimous verdict on the dismissal of a no-confidence vote brought against the Imran Khan government in the National Assembly. Pakistan will see new Prime Minister; SC calls for no-trust vote on April 9.
In its order, the judges also declared President Arif Alvi’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly and provincial assemblies as “null and void”. While ordering the reinstatement of the National Assembly and immediate implementation of court orders, the bench stated that the opposition would be allowed to move a no-confidence vote against the Imran Khan government in the lower house at 10 am on April 9.
Members of the National Assembly will be able to cast their votes for the no-confidence motion, the court said, adding that if the no-confidence motion is successful, Pakistan will get a new prime minister. The five-judge bench stated that the Speaker of the National Assembly cannot adjourn the session till the vote of no-confidence is moved on the floor of the house.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court further clarified that its decision will in no way impact Article 63A of the country’s Constitution. Prime Minister Imran Khan was bound by the Constitution, which is why he could not advise President Arif Alvi to dissolve the provincial assemblies, the judges said in their order.
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The Supreme Court’s verdict spells trouble for the Imran Khan government, which effectively fell short of the majority mark of 172 in the country’s 342-member National Assembly last week. As per reports, opposition parties have the support of 199 legislators, while Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has the support of merely 144 legislators.
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