- Pakistan’s top court hopes to wrap up on Thursday a hearing on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s obstruction of an opposition bid to remove him, which his critics say was unconstitutional.
- Khan lost his parliamentary majority last week and was on the verge of being forced from office by a no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition on Sunday.
- But the deputy speaker of parliament threw out the motion, ruling it was unconstitutional and part of a foreign conspiracy. Khan then dissolved parliament.
- The standoff has thrown the country of 220 million people, ruled by the military for extended periods since independence in 1947, into a full-blown constitutional crisis.
Here are the latest updates:
Khan ‘sabotaged constitution on April 3’: Sharif
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif hopes the court will announce its verdict at the earliest.
Sharif said the political uncertainty has had a huge impact on the country’s economy, accusing Imran Khan of its “poor handling”.
Value of Dollar in interbank market has touched Rs188. Is SBP a partner in crime and deliberately closing its eyes to massive manipulation going on right now?Does SBP want rupee to touch Rs190 to a dollar before weekend? SBP must clarify it’s position
— Shahbaz Rana (@81ShahbazRana) April 7, 2022
“Imran Niazi is an absolutely fraud,” Sharif said, adding that Khan “sabotaged the constitution on April 3”.
“If you want to save Pakistan, then you have to save the constitution and ensure free and fair elections,” he said. “I am sure the judges will protect the constitution.”
Calling opposition ‘traitors’ was a joke: ANP leader
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar says declaring the opposition leaders fighting for the supremacy of the constitution as “traitors” was a joke.
“On the other hand, those who violated the constitution were still ruling the country,” he told reporters outside the Supreme Court.
“We expect a decision that would strengthen the constitution and parliament.”
Academic Ayesha Jalal on what happens next in Pakistan
“You never know with Pakistan’s politics – anything is possible. After all, it is very rare for governments in Pakistan to complete a full term. But no matter what the Supreme Court decides about the no-confidence vote, it does look set that Pakistan will be heading to an election in the next 90 days.
“It will be a bitter, bitter election – and held in the middle of Pakistan’s hot summer. Uncertainty, politicking and potential unrest could dominate the next few months.
“The danger is that Khan will not accept an election loss and take his fight to supporters in the streets. If a political crisis becomes a law-and-order issue, the army – never far away from Pakistani politics, and seemingly losing patience with Khan – might decide enough is enough and move in.
“That said, there is little appetite among the population for a military dictatorship.”
‘Taken oath to protect constitution’: Ex-foreign minister
Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi denies his party has taken any unconstitutional steps.
“We have taken oath to protect the constitution,” he told reporters outside the Supreme Court.
He said parliament’s deputy speaker did not disallow the no-confidence motion but pointed towards “facts of political interference that tantamount to an effort for regime change”.
“The allegations can be probed,” he said. “In my opinion, the only solution to the current political crisis is fresh election.”
Out of curiosity- is there any qualified legal professional who publicly supports the deputy speaker’s actions as constitutional?
— Hassan Kamal Wattoo (@hkwattoo1) April 6, 2022
PM Khan to huddle with party leaders
Khan will chair a meeting of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party at his residence in the capital Islamabad at approximately 1pm (08:00 GMT), media reports said.
The PTI’s top leadership is meeting to devise their strategy in anticipation of a verdict by the Supreme Court.
Senator Faisal Javed says an election will happen in 3 months – does he already know in advance what the ruling will be?
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) April 7, 2022
Far-right party urges court to undo Khan’s moves
Pakistan’s far-right Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which rose to prominence in 2017 for its support of anti-blasphemy laws, has urged the Supreme Court to undo the decisions of Khan’s government.
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the TLP said it would not allow Khan’s government to make changes to the country’s constitution.
“If the deputy speaker’s ruling is condoned, then we fear Islamic provisions of the constitution would be violated and a non-Muslim could be appointed president or prime minister through a simple ruling,” says the statement, released in Urdu.
‘Pakistan and the constitution demand justice’
The leaders of opposition Pakistan’s Peoples Party (PPP) say they expect the top court to do justice and restore the National Assembly.
“It’s the fifth day that constitution is suspended in our country,” former deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi told reporters outside the Supreme Court.
“Pakistan and the constitution demand justice,” said PPP leader and Senator Sherry Rehman, who demanded that the members of Khan’s cabinet be put on the Exit Control List (ECL) so they are not able to leave the country and face accountability.
Supreme Court hearing enters fourth day
The top court is due to reconvene for a fourth day on Thursday at 9:30am (04:30 GMT).
The opposition has challenged the decision to block the no-confidence vote in the Supreme Court, which began deliberating the case on Monday.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said: “Let’s start early from tomorrow to conclude the case,” at the end of a session on Wednesday in which defence lawyers offered a justification for Khan’s actions.
