Pakistan government files revision petition against SC order

Islamabad: The Pakistan government has filed a review over the Supreme Court's decision to restore the National Assembly and invalidate Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's dismissal of voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, IANS reported

The Pak SC bench of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, along with Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Aijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, had ordered the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon the session on Saturday and allow the no-confidence motion against PM Imran.

According to Geo News, the ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Secretary-General Asad Umar, Adviser to Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, and advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique have filed the petition asking the top court to withdraw its April 7 decision.

The petition read, "The Supreme Court cannot dictate the timetable to the National Assembly under Article 69."

The Pak SC's April 7 order read, "In consequence of the foregoing, it is declared that at all material times the Prime Minister was under the bar imposed by the Explanation to clause (1) of Article 58 of the Constitution and continues to remain so restricted. He could not, therefore, have at any time advised the President to dissolve the Assembly as contemplated by clause (1) of Article 58."

Further, "In consequence of the foregoing, it is declared that the advice tendered by the Prime Minister on or about 03.04.2022 to the President to dissolve the Assembly was contrary to the Constitution and of no legal effect," the order read.

The SC also declared that the National Assembly existed at all times and will continue to remain so."