کل بھی بھٹو زندہ تھا،آج بھی بھٹو زندہ ھے

Video Report - Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressing a press conference at Zardari House ISB

Pakistan's top court rules against Imran Khan, bringing his ouster closer

By Asif Shahzad and Syed Raza Hassan

Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Prime Minister Imran Khan's move to dissolve parliament was unconstitutional and called for lawmakers to return in two days, a decision that could spell the end of his premiership.

The former cricket star had moved to dissolve the lower chamber ahead of a no-confidence vote against him that he had looked destined to lose. The court said in its judgment that the vote would now go ahead.

The constitutional crisis has threatened economic and social stability in the nuclear-armed nation of 220 million people, with the rupee currency hitting all-time lows earlier on Thursday and foreign exchange reserves tumbling.When opposition parties united against Khan last week to push for the no-confidence motion, the deputy speaker of parliament, a member of Khan's party, threw out the motion, ruling it was part of a foreign conspiracy and unconstitutional.

Khan then dissolved parliament.

Thursday's ruling could spell the premature end of Khan's tenure in a country where no elected leader has finished their full term in office.

The 69-year-old, who steered Pakistan to cricket World Cup victory in 1992, came to power in 2018 after rallying the country behind his vision of a corruption-free, prosperous nation respected on the world stage.

But it appears that the firebrand nationalist's fame and charisma may not be enough to keep him in power.

If Khan were to lose the no-confidence vote, the opposition could nominate its own prime minister and hold power until August 2023, by which date fresh elections have to be held.

The opposition has said it wants early elections, but only after delivering a political defeat to Khan and passing legislation it says is required to ensure the next polls are free and fair.

Pakistan's election commission said on Thursday that the earliest it could hold the ballot was October.

The crisis is a worry for economic policymakers in Pakistan, that is in the middle of an International Monetary Fund bailout. The Pakistan rupee took a battering on Thursday as the country awaited the court's judgment, hitting record lows.

"As (the) dollar continues to soar, a massive economic meltdown is staring the country in the face," Shehbaz Sherif, an opposition leader who is among the favourites to replace Khan as prime minister, said in a tweet.

It also threatens relationships with long-time ally the United States, who Khan has blamed for being behind a conspiracy to overthrow him. Washington denies this.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-top-court-likely-rule-khans-bid-block-ouster-2022-04-07/

An Open Letter to the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial by Concerned Academics and Citizens on the prevailing political and constitutional crisis

Dear Justice Umar Ata Bandial,

We are a group of senior academics, civil society representatives, and concerned citizens. We are writing to put forth our grave concerns over the prevailing political and constitutional crisis. We are sure that your unwavering commitment to the Constitution of Pakistan and unbounded passion for justice will guide the nation through these troubled times and hope that you will give due consideration to our assertions below:

The Constitution of Pakistan represents the social contract between the state and the society. It provides the framework to govern the country. It is the basis for cooperation between the federating units. It is a sacred covenant between all sections of the society and the ultimate expression of the collective will of the people. It guarantees the fundamental rights of citizens and provides due process to place necessary limits on the exercise of executive authority. Unconditional and strict adherence to the constitution is the only way to establish and sustain a peaceful, civilized and prosperous society and avoid widespread lawlessness and anarchy. We have noted with enormous distress the aggressive and contemptuous manner in which the Constitution of Pakistan was violated by the outgoing government. This is a major threat to the social cohesion and well-being of the nation. This action has brought us to the ignominious juncture where the ‘doctrine of necessity’ is again being invoked by some to suspend due process and violate the fundamental right to vote on the basis of unsubstantiated claims of alleged foreign interference in the political process.

The decisions you take today concerning the supremacy of Constitution will shape the destiny and trajectory of our national existence. As concerned citizens, we therefore request that following principles are considered while addressing the matter:

1. The due process prescribed in the Constitution must be followed in letter and spirit and no compromises be made under any pretext to justify unlawful and unconstitutional actions. 2. Responsibility should be fixed in case subversion of the Constitution is established during the proceedings and exemplary retribution ensured to deter any future excesses. 3. An independent judicial commission comprising serving judges of the Supreme Court should be established to adjudicate the evidence regarding the alleged foreign conspiracy to subvert the political process in the country. 4. All state institutions must be directed to remain in their constitutional boundaries. 5. Political process must be allowed to proceed unhindered and take its own course within the confines and in accordance with the Constitution. 6. All political parties must be directed to avoid hate-mongering and deepening social fissures on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations and assertions.

The honour and well-being of our future generations lie only in adherence to the Constitution and inclusive politics epitomizing mutual acceptance of mandates, a level playing field, and the basic norms of decency.

Today, we pin all our hopes on your lordship to uphold the Constitution and stand by the people of Pakistan in this hour of need.

Sincerely, https://en.humsub.com.pk/3934/open-letter-to-cjp/

#PakistanSupremeCourt - Speaker’s ruling case: Disputed verdict to make judiciary, next elections controversial, warns Bilawal

Bilawal Bhutto rejects the “doctrine of necessity", saying it’s not acceptable now.

As the Supreme Court moves closer to a verdict on the "unconstitutional" ruling by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri to reject the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned said that a disputed verdict will make Parliament, judiciary, and the upcoming elections controversial.

Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Bilawal Bhutto rejected the “doctrine of necessity", saying it’s not acceptable now.

“In the past, we have seen the doctrine of necessity which is not acceptable now, therefore, we should look towards the Constitution of Pakistan only," he asserted.

“We want the court decision regarding the deputy speaker’s unconstitutional ruling to be in favour of the Constitution. It should not be in mine or Imran Khan's favour,” he added.

Responding to PML-Q’s decision to join PTI, Bilawal said that despite the breach of promise by PML-Q, the Opposition still had a majority.

“We [the joint Opposition] have proved a majority in the Centre as well in Punjab,” he said.

The PPP chairperson said that PM Imran Khan had abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan and ran away.

“Now we hope that [the] judiciary will steer [the] country out of this constitutional crisis," he said, adding that, “we believe the court decision will restore democracy in the country and make institutions uncontroversial too.”

He opined that election reforms were necessary for a transparent election in the country.

“By making election reforms, we can get out of the crisis we have been facing from [the] last 30 years,” he said. But he added that PM Imran Khan dissolved Parliament in an unconstitutional way, so the Opposition could not get the time for election reforms.

'Transparent and fair election'

Bilawal went on to say that they want a transparent and fair election.

The PPP chairperson also lambasted PM Imran Khan for "fabricating a false narrative of a foreign conspiracy".

He was speaking about the ‘threat letter’ that PM Imran Khan brandished at a jalsa at D-chowk. Since then, the PM is labelling the Opposition leaders as traitors for hatching a plot to topple his government.

Subsequently, the PM called an NSC meeting and presented the letter. However, following the directions of the meeting, a ‘demarche’ was issued to the US envoy.

Bilawal said that PM Imran Khan had attempted to drag institutions into politics, saying that the NSC meeting was called solely for political purposes and stirred up an issue of an international conspiracy.

“The way the PM is building up a narrative, a clarification should be issued in this regard,” he said, adding that, “He [PM] is fabricating a false narrative against PPP as NSC’s meeting statement did not mention any conspiracy.”

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/948157-speakers-ruling-case-disputed-verdict-to-make-judiciary-next-elections-controversial-warns-bilawal