SC begins hearing of NA deputy speaker’s ruling case today

A larger bench of the Supreme Court (SC), led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial, will today (Monday) start proceedings of the suo motu notice it had taken of the National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker’s ruling yesterday in which he had thrown out the no-trust motion tabled by the opposition against the government on the basis of a ‘threatening letter’ received by the government of Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The SC did not take long to take notice of the ruling, and sought its explanation from the government on the very day it was given. 

The court will begin hearing of the case at 1:00pm today.  

Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan will give his arguments regarding deputy speaker’s yesterday action.   

Taking notice of the ruling, the apex court had issued notices to the President, Prime Minister, National Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan, Opposition parties, Pakistan Bar Council, Commissioner, Defence Secretary and others.

A three-judge larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial yesterday stopped the government officials from taking any extra-judicial steps directing that all orders issued by Prime Minister or President regarding dissolution of National Assembly would be subject to the court order. 

In the beginning of the NA session yesterday, Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had delivered a speech in which he linked the no-confidence motion to the letter received by the government, and in which it had been threatened with dire consequences in case the motion against the government was not passed.  

Immediately after his speech, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri threw out the motion, saying that no foreign power had any right to interfere in the internal matters of Pakistan.  

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori