Once again, SC suggests PTI go back to National Assembly

• Chief Justice Omar Bandyal says that PTI should play its role in Parliament.
• PTI is of the view that by-elections should be held in all 123 seats at once.
• The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the case indefinitely.

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday reiterated its suggestion that the PTI should go back and be part of the National Assembly as the people have elected their representatives for a five-year term.

This advice of the Supreme Court came during the PTI hearing a plea Against the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) dismissing the appeal accepting the resignations of party MNAs in pieces.

Chief Justice Umar Atta Bandial, who headed a two-member bench comprising Justice Ayesha Malik, asked the party to return to Parliament and play its role in the National Assembly.

The Supreme Court – while hearing several cases – has repeatedly urged the Imran Khan-led party to return to parliament since its ouster from the government.

After hearing the arguments, the court adjourned the proceedings of the case for an indefinite period.

Initially PTI has been transferred Challenged the IHC and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for accepting the resignations of 11 MNAs and not accepting the “piecemeal” resignations of all 123 legislators.

But IHC dismissed Application on September 6

Two days after PTI chairman Imran Khan was removed as prime minister – through a no-confidence motion moved by the then opposition – all PTI MNAs resigned en masse on April 11. gave

Suri – who was serving as Acting Speaker after Asad Qaiser resigned as Speaker – had accepted all the resignations on April 15.

However, when Raja Pervaiz Ashraf was appointed Speaker, he decided to confirm the resignations of all MNAs by interviewing them individually.

The decision was taken following reports that several resignations submitted by legislators were typed and not handwritten – which is against NA rules.

Today’s hearing

During today’s hearing, the Supreme Court said the IHC has given a clear verdict on the phased acceptance of resignations of MNAs.

“The Speaker has a legal right to accept the resignation of MNAs. Prima facie, if the Speaker’s rights are violated, it would attract Article 69,” the court said.

“Convince the court that there were some errors in the High Court’s decision,” he told PTI lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, adding that the people had elected his client for a five-year term and given the party its role in Parliament. should do.

“Your [PTI] The real responsibility is to play one’s role in Parliament. Lakhs of people have been affected by the floods,” the chief justice told the lawyer, highlighting the dire situation in the country.

Chief Justice Bandyal said that flood victims do not have water to drink and people from foreign countries are coming to Pakistan to help them.

“You also have to look at the economic situation of the country, does the PTI have an idea of ​​how much it will cost to conduct by-elections on 123 seats?” he asked.

The Chief Justice further said that IHC Chief Justice Minullah issued his decision after deep legal deliberations. If the court intervenes, it will be difficult for the speaker to do his job.

The apex court then directed PTI’s counsel to brief the bench after taking instructions from the party leadership.

Chief Justice Bandyal advised the PTI not to be hasty in seeking to get their resignations accepted.

Justice Ayesha Malik also remarked that legislators can approach the court individually. He asked: “In what capacity are you demanding approval of resignations at once?”

Then the Chief Justice asked what is your real purpose? If there are elections on 123 seats, what will be the benefit of PTI?

On this, the PTI lawyer demanded that by-elections be held in all 123 constituencies at the same time.

Fawad’s reply to the Supreme Court

Responding to the Supreme Court’s remarks, PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry claimed that Pakistan’s economy had lost billions of dollars due to the “regime change operation”.

The PTI leader was referring to his party’s claim that his government was toppled by the US through a “regime change operation”, in which the current government also played a role.

“The Supreme Court asked if the PTI knew how much the 123 by-elections would cost. Well, the Supreme Court has no idea that as a result of the regime change operation, Pakistan has so far only There has been a loss of 5 billion dollars in terms of currency.”