On Sunday, April 3, 2022, the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, dissolved the national assembly of Pakistan. The country witnessed the most eventful weekend in its history when the prime minister flinched at the opposition and advised the president to dissolve the assembly.
The president of Pakistan approved the advice of the prime minister under article 58 (1) of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. PM Imran Khan said in a speech that he had asked the president to "dissolve" Pakistan's parliament.
According to article 58 of the constitution, "the president can dissolve the national assembly if so advised by the prime minister."
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the dissolution of the national assembly. Before that, the deputy speaker, Qasim Suri, rejected the no-confidence motion and declared it unconstitutional. He cited Article 5 of the Constitution.
Fawad Chaudhary claimed in his speech that the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the prime minister was a foreign conspiracy.
He further quoted article 5 of the constitution, which states that loyalty to the state is a duty of every citizen. Fawad Chaudhary asked the deputy chairman to reject the motion. It triggered an uproar from the opposition benches.
As Fawad Chaudhary completed his speech, the deputy speaker gave his ruling by reading from a paper. He said that the joint opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion on March 8. The deputy speaker said that no-confidence should be allowed under the constitution. No external power has the right to topple a government that Pakistan’s public has elected.
He further said that points raised by the law minister in the assembly are valid as per the constitution.
The prime minister made a brief address to the nation after a stormy session of parliament was adjourned by the deputy speaker.
In his speech, Imran Khan congratulated the people on the dismissal of the no-confidence motion. He said that the deputy speaker had rejected the attempt to change the government through a foreign conspiracy.
He further said that the nation should prepare for new elections. He added that, thank God, a conspiracy to overturn the government has failed.
Imran Khan said the constitution of Pakistan calls for elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the assembly. While addressing the people, the prime minister said no foreign influence or corrupt people, but you have to decide for Pakistan.
After the dissolution of assemblies, the process of caretaker government began. The information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, said that the cabinet has been dissolved under article 224 of the constitution, and the prime minister will continue in his office.
After the dismissal of the no-confidence motion, the supreme court of Pakistan took a Suo moto notice. A larger bench would hear the opposition’s plea.
According to the opposition, Sunday was the worst day in the history of Pakistan. The opposition demanded that a full bench of the supreme court hear the case of a no-confidence motion that was dismissed. The statement appreciated the chief justice of the supreme court for taking notice of the situation.
Credits: Wikipedia
The president of Pakistan approved the advice of the prime minister under article 58 (1) of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. PM Imran Khan said in a speech that he had asked the president to "dissolve" Pakistan's parliament.
According to article 58 of the constitution, "the president can dissolve the national assembly if so advised by the prime minister."
Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the dissolution of the national assembly. Before that, the deputy speaker, Qasim Suri, rejected the no-confidence motion and declared it unconstitutional. He cited Article 5 of the Constitution.
NA Proceedings
The national assembly session was scheduled for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. It started at 12:10. After the recitation and the national anthem, Mr. Fawad Chaudhary was given the floor to speak.Fawad Chaudhary claimed in his speech that the opposition’s no-confidence motion against the prime minister was a foreign conspiracy.
He further quoted article 5 of the constitution, which states that loyalty to the state is a duty of every citizen. Fawad Chaudhary asked the deputy chairman to reject the motion. It triggered an uproar from the opposition benches.
As Fawad Chaudhary completed his speech, the deputy speaker gave his ruling by reading from a paper. He said that the joint opposition had submitted a no-confidence motion on March 8. The deputy speaker said that no-confidence should be allowed under the constitution. No external power has the right to topple a government that Pakistan’s public has elected.
He further said that points raised by the law minister in the assembly are valid as per the constitution.
Therefore, the Deputy Speaker said,
"I give my ruling and disallow the no-confidence motion because it is contradictory to the constitution and national interdependence", he prorogued the session immediately.
The prime minister made a brief address to the nation after a stormy session of parliament was adjourned by the deputy speaker.
In his speech, Imran Khan congratulated the people on the dismissal of the no-confidence motion. He said that the deputy speaker had rejected the attempt to change the government through a foreign conspiracy.
He further said that the nation should prepare for new elections. He added that, thank God, a conspiracy to overturn the government has failed.
Imran Khan said the constitution of Pakistan calls for elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the assembly. While addressing the people, the prime minister said no foreign influence or corrupt people, but you have to decide for Pakistan.
After the dissolution of assemblies, the process of caretaker government began. The information minister, Fawad Chaudhry, said that the cabinet has been dissolved under article 224 of the constitution, and the prime minister will continue in his office.
Political Turmoil in the Country
The tussle between the opposition party and PTI has created political turmoil in the country. The surprise that Imran Khan maintained pushed the case all the way to the Supreme Court.After the dismissal of the no-confidence motion, the supreme court of Pakistan took a Suo moto notice. A larger bench would hear the opposition’s plea.
According to the opposition, Sunday was the worst day in the history of Pakistan. The opposition demanded that a full bench of the supreme court hear the case of a no-confidence motion that was dismissed. The statement appreciated the chief justice of the supreme court for taking notice of the situation.