ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial said that all orders and actions undertaken by the prime minister and president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court’s order.
The chief justice stated this after taking suo moto notice of the current situation in the country following the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and the subsequent dissolution of the NA by President Arif Alvi.
A three-member bench of the top court comprising CJP Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar heard the case today, a spokesperson of the apex court said today evening.
Following the chief justice’s observation regarding the prime minister and president’s actions, lawyer Asad Rahim said that until the court’s order is out, “the status of the national assembly is up in the air.”
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Sunday took notice of the political situation in the country. Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial reached the top court soon after President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly. The development comes after the Opposition leaders demanded to review the “unconstitutional” ruling given by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.
The apex court has adjourned the hearing till tomorrow (Monday).
Commenting on today’s development, CJP Bandial said that the law-and-order situation should be maintained.
“This is an important matter and a hearing will be held tomorrow,” he said, barring all political parties and government departments to take advantage of the ongoing situation.
Regarding the Opposition’s petition, he said that the hearing should be fixed for PPP’s petition.
CJP Bandial proposed to make President Alvi a party in this case. He further added that a hearing will be held tomorrow in this regard after the hearing of the 63A presidential reference.
He further directed all state agencies and provincial law enforcement agencies to maintain the law and order situation in the country.
Meanwhile, Justice Bandial added that the court cannot interfere much in the proceeding of the National Assembly; however, he said the court is aware of the situation there.
He also mentioned that symbolic voting was conducted by the Opposition leaders, highlighting that Ayaz Sadiq conducted the voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister and over 200 members of the assembly voted in favour of the motion.
