Islamabad [Pakistan], April 5 (ANI): The Supreme Court of Pakistan adjourned Monday without ruling on the dissolution of parliament that has led to the ongoing political and constitutional crisis in the country.
A five-member bench resumed hearing on the case filed a day earlier when the Pakistani lawmakers were prevented from voting on the no-trust motion.
Pakistan Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that even if the speaker of the National Assembly cites Article 5 of the Constitution, the no-confidence motion cannot be rejected. “Does the speaker not have any option to reject the no-trust motion? Are you saying that the speaker dishonestly rejected the no-confidence motion?” Bandial was quoted as saying by The News International newspaper.
Pakistan Justice Chief made the remarks while hearing the suo moto case related to the prevailing crisis in the country. “The speaker cannot reject the no-confidence motion even if he refers to Article 5 of the constitution,” he said.
Justice Bandial further added that his fellow judges had expressed concern over the constitutional crisis the country was facing. On Sunday, Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the Pakistani parliament following Khan’s advice. Imran Khan made the proposal minutes after parliament’s deputy speaker rejected a motion of no confidence in him as “unconstitutional.”
The decision to cancel the no-confidence vote angered opposition parties, who said they would appeal the decision in court. Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Hussain had said a snap parliamentary election will be held within 90 days. Pakistan media has criticized the dissolution of the National Assembly in the country, saying that whatever happened on Sunday violated all rules governing proceedings in the House, particularly those dealing with the motion of no-confidence.
In an editorial published on Monday, the Dawn newspaper said that Imran Khan could have played the political game like a true sportsperson and still emerged stronger from the loss given the sharp narrative he had spun leading up to the vote. (ANI)
Imran Khan playing ‘US card’ to build political support: US expert
Islamabad [Pakistan], April 5 (ANI): As Pakistan continues to stare at a pronged political and constitutional crisis, a US expert explained how Imran Khan is trying to play a “US card” to build up his support base. On Sunday, Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the Pakistani parliament following Khan’s advice. Imran Khan made the proposal minutes after parliament’s deputy speaker rejected a motion of no confidence in him as “unconstitutional.”
Pakistan media and opposition parties criticized this decision saying that it violated all rules governing proceedings in the House. Pakistan’s PM has based this decision on claims of “foreign conspiracy”, which he says aims to oust him from power.” He even named a senior American diplomat as the person who was allegedly involved in the “foreign conspiracy” to overthrow his government. “It’s highly unlikely that any US official would get involved in Pakistan’s internal politics. I think Imran Khan is trying to play the ‘US card’ to build up support from his base,” said Lisa Curtis, a regional expert who served in the previous Bush and Trump presidencies.
Curtis was responding to a question regarding Imran’s allegations that the US was supporting a movement to topple his government. She made these remarks in an interview with Voice of America Deewa. “It’s highly highly unlikely that any US official would get involved in any way..US officials are very careful to stay out of the country’s internal politics so this is something that Imran Khan concocted to build up his support from his base,” she was quoted as saying Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper.
Lisa Curtis, who is now Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, said the Biden administration has been trying to work with Pakistan on several issues including Afghanistan and “there is absolutely no reason for the US to seek regime change in Pakistan”.
She argued that the US is not concerned about the change in the civilian set-up in Pakistan as “any change in the civilian political system really has a very marginal effect on the issues that the US cares most about”. “The US government wants good relations with whatever government is in Pakistan… the political situation of Pakistan has nothing to with the US.” (ANI)
No truth to claims US behind effort to oust Imran Khan: State Department
Washington [US], April 5 (ANI): The United States once again refuted allegations made by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran that Washington is behind an effort to oust his government from power.
“There is absolutely no truth to the allegations,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing. Price said the US does not support one political party over another in Pakistan but instead supports the principles of rule of law.
Imran Khan on Sunday named a senior American diplomat as the person who was allegedly involved in the “foreign conspiracy” to overthrow his government through a no-confidence vote. Speaking at a meeting in Islamabad, Imran Khan claimed that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu was involved in the “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government.
Imran Khan claimed that Donald Lu warned the Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Asad Majeed, that there would be implications if the Pakistan PM survived the no-confidence vote. On Sunday, Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the Pakistani parliament following Khan’s advice. Imran Khan made the proposal minutes after parliament’s deputy speaker rejected a motion of no confidence in him as “unconstitutional.”
The decision to cancel the no-confidence vote angered opposition parties, who said they would appeal the decision in court. Pakistani Information Minister Fawad Hussain had said a snap parliamentary election will be held within 90 days. Pakistan media has criticized the dissolution of the National Assembly in the country, saying that whatever happened on Sunday violated all rules governing proceedings in the House, particularly those dealing with the motion of no-confidence.
In an editorial published on Monday, the Dawn newspaper said that Imran Khan could have played the political game like a true sportsperson and still emerged stronger from the loss given the sharp narrative he had spun leading up to the vote. (ANI)
