Yesterday the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave its verdict on the dissolution of the National Assembly following a Speaker disputed ruling that declared those supporting the No confidence motion against the PM, as traitors and part of a conspiracy to de-seat the Government.
The Court Declared; a) ruling of Speaker Unconstitutional, b) PM's advise to President Unconstitutional, c) Dissolution of NA by President Unconstitutional, d) Vote of No-confidence remains intact & its 7th day will be on April 9th, e) Speaker to call NA session on April 9th, cannot change date.
Here is the full verdict in pdf.
An important session of the National Assembly was called on Sunday (3rd April 2022) to vote on the no confidence motion. This was after almost a week of intense street gatherings and agitation by the Government as well as by the oppositions.
Initially the Government gave clear threats that the PTI will gather enough people in front of the Assembly Building and 'turn coats' PTI members will have to go through them. Before this PTI has started an intense campaign of 'name and shame' against those members. Since than Opposition had intensified efforts to get PTI allies to their side so that the Opposition did not have to rely PTI for success of no confidence and keep them in reserve. All of the allies of PTI government left them including key ally MQM. The Law Minister was also from MQM so he resigned as well. After several key resignations of Ministers and Special Advisors and clear announcement by the former allies of the government that they longer support PTI government in the National Assembly, it was just a fait accompli that the vote of no confidence will easily go through with the need of any PTI member voting in the favour of the vote.
This confrontation was however avoided. And after all efforts to delay the no confidence move, 3rd April was fixed to take up the motions. On that day opposition gathered enough members from former allies of the PTI government so as not to rely on those PTI members who had decided to vote for the no confidence move.
On Sunday the 3rd April, 2022, all opposition together with PTI members supporting the no confidence reached the National Assembly building walking on foot since the building had been cordoned off by putting containers on the road fearing public gathering. As soon as the session started Minister of Information who was also given Portfolio of Ministry of Law just yesterday after a key ally MQM left the government, stood on a point of order and said that the speaker should give a ruling on the motion whether it is constitutional since National Security Commitee
It was fifth day of the hearing and the verdict was announced late in the evening. The delay in deciding the case quickly was widely criticized in the civil society. The uncertain situation was impacting the precarious economic situation of the country and Rupee weakened to almost 189 to a US dollar. In addition it was feared that delay in deciding the case was by design, if history is any guide, so as to create enough post dissolution realities on the ground that ultimately early elections remain the only choice as desired by the Government.