ISLAMABAD: A five-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, has unanimously declared the deputy speaker’s ruling to stop the no-confidence motion as well as the dissolution of the national assembly by the prime minister as contrary to the law and constitution. The Court has also ordered for the national assembly to be restored, and for the vote of no confidence to be held on April 9. On Sunday, the deputy speaker of the national assembly blocked the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan terming it a “foreign conspiracy”. Later the prime minister dissolved the national assembly and called for a fresh election. The same day the Supreme Court took up the case to decide whether the deputy speaker had the legal and constitutional authority to sidestep the no-trust move. Legal expert Muneeb Farooq tweeted that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has risen up to the occasion and has “declared every action of April 3 as unconstitutional”. “Thankfully, we are celebrating this order that has torn to shreds the actions of April 3. It is should be embarrassing for the ruling party for they did not conduct themselves in an honourable and graceful way.” Lawyer Salaar Khan tweeted that the constitution had won, adding that “may the doctrine of necessity forever remain six feet beneath the ground.”
