SBC also submits petition against NA deputy speaker’s ruling

The Sindh Bar Council has also submitted its petition challenging the dismissal of no-confidence motion by the National Assembly deputy speaker, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The SBC on Tuesday also became a petitioner in the high profile case in which the judiciary would endeavor to take the country out of the constitutional crisis arising out of NA deputy speaker’s ruling and then subsequent dissolution of National Assembly by President Arif Alvi on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The SBC pleaded the court to declare the deputy speaker’s ruling null and void and issue an order to once again hold voting on the no-confidence motion 

It also requested the court to nullify the presidential order regarding dissolution of the National Assembly. 

The deputy speaker was bound to hold voting on the no-confidence motion, the petition said adding that the no-trust could not be dismissed without listening to the members of National Assembly. 

The NA deputy speaker and the president took an unconstitutional step on the advice of prime minister, the petition concluded.

The Supreme Court will also hold hearing of its suo motu notice of the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling who dismissed the no-confidence motion submitted by joint opposition.

A five-judge larger bench of Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Mian Khel, Justice Muneeb Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel would hear the case today (Tuesday) at 12 noon. 

NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri’s lawyer Naeem Bukhari and PPP lawyer Raza Rabbani will give their arguments.

The Punjab advocate general would submit his reply regarding suspension of voting for the election of chief minister in the Punjab Assembly.

The Supreme Court has asked lawyers of all parties to submit their written replies and keep their arguments short. 

The CJP is likely to release some kind of order after today’s hearing as he wanted to issue some “reasonable order” yesterday but since arguments were not complete, so the court shunned issuing any order. 

During Monday’s hearing, Justice Muneeb remarked that “he thinks that as per the rules, the deputy speaker could only run the house in the absence of the NA speaker but he does not have the jurisdiction to give such kind of ruling.”

Reporter Amanat Gishkori