The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling to dismiss the no-confidence motion and subsequent dissolution of the lower house by the president on the PM’s advice were contrary to the law and Constitution. The apex court declared that NA deputy speaker’s ruling to be contrary to Constitution and the law and of no legal effect. The top court ruled that the President Arif Avli’s order to dissolve the Assembly was contrary to the Constitution and of no legal effect, and it is hereby set aside. The SC declared that all actions, acts or proceedings initiated, done or taken by reason of, or to give effect to, the president’s order are of no legal effect and are hereby quashed.
Notably, The Supreme Court wants early elections; this explains the presence of the ECP officials during the hearing in the Court. Leaders from opposition including Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto were also asked for election but they told SC that, they want to do electoral reforms. Imran Khan’s 3rd April’s surprise came as a bombshell for the opposition but at the cost of the constitutional and political crisis in Pakistan. It sparked political instability and has put another dent in the democracy of Pakistan with far-reaching consequences. Political polarization, contempt for constitution and law, economic distress, and weakened parliament are a few. But the drama isn’t new. Such brazen violations of the constitution and real politics have always been a part of Pakistan’s political history.
It’s a power game being played out by the power elite only to keep or get hold of the power. There is no inclusion of the common masses; their interests or their problems. Pakistan’s political environment has become a theatre of absurdity with no regard for democratic norms. Since its inception, the political system has been swinging back and forth between military dictatorship and fragile civil governments. Democracy found little room to deepen its roots. The process of democratic consolidation went into the abyss time and again.
The monopoly over violence is not with the state but with the group of elites who keep the peace because it’s in their interest. Since the resources, rent and property are limited, they limit access to it and rarely allow someone to join their ranks. Pakistan is a typical example of LAO where a small group of elites has captured the national resources and commoners can only dream of reaching the power corridors. Hence Pakistan’s political system can be best described as a plutocracy, a rule by the wealthy, where the elite are fighting for power to capture state resources to enhance their personal wealth and power. They have no regard for the constitution, institutions, or rule of law. While the commons masses suffer from the dwindling economy, massive inflation, corruption and institutional erosion, the power elite is playing the game of musical chair around the throne with no settled principles or morality.
PTI’s narrative of a foreign conspiracy got a blow after Supreme Court’s decision but it had formed a commission to probe the alleged ‘foreign conspiracy’ behind the no-confidence resolution filed against Prime Minister Imran Khan by the opposition. On the other hand, crises in Punjab is also deepening day by day and now the no confidence vote will be held today, unless PTI has more surprises planned for today or may be, Imran Khan is going to become the first Pakistani prime minister to be dismissed from office through a constitutional no trust motion…
Comments are closed.