A shocking setback for Prime Minister Imran Khan: Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ordered a no-confidence motion to be filed by Saturday morning

*Paromita Das

The Pakistan Supreme Court ordered on Thursday that the no-confidence motion, which was denied by the deputy speaker last Sunday, be held by 10: 30 a.m. on Saturday, 9^th April, a major setback for Prime Minister Imran Khan. .

The top court bench, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, quashed the presidential order to dissolve Parliament, which was carried out at Khan’s request, in a unanimous 5-0 decision.
As soon as the verdict was announced, members of the opposition began shouting slogans urging Khan to resign.

Following days of hearing arguments from government and opposition lawyers, the court asked the election commission on Thursday about their readiness to hold elections.
It was estimated that the delimitation of constituencies based on the census would take up to four months. Khan hoped to hold elections in 90 days.

Khan’s attempts to avoid due legal process appear to have failed as a result of the verdict.

Pakistan’s opposition leaders have applauded the Supreme Court’s decision.

Maryam Nawaz, vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, took to Twitter to applaud the Supreme Court’s decision and congratulate the country.
The National Assembly session on Sunday was called to order by the deputy speaker, Qasim Khan Suri, less than an hour after it began. The deputy speaker, who was filling in for the speaker, Asad Qasier, whom the opposition had filed a no-confidence motion against just before the session, called it unconstitutional.

Almost simultaneously, Khan addressed the nation on television, requesting that the president dissolve parliament and local assemblies, which the president promptly did.

Khan then dismissed the cabinet and began the process of assembling an interim government.

However, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the cricketer-turned-deft politician’s moves were in vain.