SC gives blow to Imran Khan, to face no-confidence motion on Saturday

But the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave a major setback to Khan by reversing the order of dissolving the parliament and even setting the date for the vote on the confidence motion.

SC gives blow to Imran Khan, to face no-confidence motion on Saturday

Islamabad: Supreme Court of Pakistan has reversed the order of dissolving the parliament and set the date for the vote on the non-confidence motion against Prime Minister  Imran Khan. 

Khan who is fighting to remain as PM after the opposition moved a no-confidence motion against him, had made sure that he continued to remain as caretaker PM by ‘directing’ the deputy speaker to dissolve the parliament. By which, he wanted to go for fresh elections in the country.

But the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave a major setback to Khan by reversing the order of dissolving the parliament and even setting the date for the vote on the confidence motion.

The SC, which calls the dissolution "unconstitutional", reconstituted the national assembly and ordered the Speaker to call a session. The court has also ruled out a review petition. The no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan will now be held on Saturday at 10 am.

If Khan loses, he will be the first Prime Minister to be removed through a no-trust vote. Two other Prime Ministers against whom a no-confidence motion was called, resigned before the vote. But Khan had refused to step down, insisting that he would "play till the last ball".
Terming the move "unconstitutional", the Opposition parties had challenged the Speaker's decision in the Supreme Court.

Under Article 58 of Pakistan's Constitution, the National Assembly cannot be dissolved if there is a no-confidence motion against the government.
After the Supreme Court's decision, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), tweeted, "Democracy is the best revenge! Jiya Bhutto! Jiya Awam! Pakistan Zindabad".

Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the man who might replace Imran Khan at the top post, tweeted: "An epoch-making day! Mubarak to all who supported, defended & campaigned for the supremacy of the Constitution. Today, politics of lies, deceit & allegations has been buried. People of Pakistan have won! God bless Pakistan".

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party effectively lost a majority in the 342-member assembly earlier this month when a key coalition partner said its seven lawmakers would vote with the opposition.