ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial today said that the no-trust motion was a political matter and the constitutional process should be followed to handle this situation.
The CJP stated this during the urgent hearing of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) petition seeking the Supreme Court’s order against the proposed public gatherings in the federal capital ahead of voting on the no-confidence against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Earlier, the SC had fixed March 21st as the date for the hearing of the but the case was fixed for today’s hearing in the wake of PTI workers attack on the Sindh House in Islamabad on Friday.
A two-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJP Umar Ata Bandial, heard the petition filed by SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon.
At the outset of today’s hearing, the CJP said, “We will also direct the Opposition parties to abide by the law.” He remarked that the court will ensure the protection of the national institutions.
The CJP asked the attorney general if he wants the court’s opinion about Article 63-A? He directed him to file the reference so that the bench could hear it along with the petition.
At this, the attorney general said the political process should be followed according to the Constitution and nobody should adopt the path of violence. He requested the court to hear the presidential reference apart from the case as it is not related to the SCBA case.
“We respect the Parliament and the parliamentarians,” the CJP said, adding that no party will be allowed to use the court’s platform to worsen the ongoing political situation in the country.
“The court will answer legal questions according to the Constitution,” he added.
Referring to the attack on the Sindh House, the CJP observed that the property of the federal unit was damaged.
At this, SCBA President Ahsan Bhoon said, “The attack on the Sindh House is an attack on the federal unit.”
Meanwhile, the apex court issued notices to the ruling PTI, PPP, PML-N and JUI-F in this regard and adjourned the hearing till Monday 1pm.
SCBA petition
In its petition, the SCBA said that all the parties must be restrained from acting against the Constitution of the country.
It said that both sides had expressed their intentions to gather, and protest at a mass scale in Islamabad in the wake of the vote of no-confidence against the premier and feared that the gatherings may turn violent.
