Pakistan SC refuses to suspend speaker's ruling over no-confidence motion, hearing to continue tomorrow

Pakistan's former chief justice Gulzar Ahmed was on Monday nominated for the office of the caretaker prime minister by incumbent Imran Khan, amid ongoing political crisis in the country.

Former information minister and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party Fawad Chaudhry said that the premier made the decision after approval from the party's core committee.

The announcement comes after President Arif Alvi sent letters to Prime Minister Khan and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif on Monday seeking suggestions for the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Sunday barred all state institutions from taking any "unconstitutional" steps after the dismissal of the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the subsequent approval of the president to dissolve the House at the advice of the embattled premier.

After successfully evading the Opposition's no-confidence motion citing a foreign conspiracy and asking the President to dissolve the National Assembly on Sunday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan poked fun at the Opposition while talking to party leaders, media reports said.

A three-member Pakistan Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, has refused to suspend the National Assembly Speaker's ruling to disallow the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, who shortly after the speaker's ruling advised the president to dissolve the National Assembly. PPP lawyer Latif Khosa had petitioned the court to suspend the ruling and grant an interim relief. The court has also ruled that the prime minister's orders will be subjected to the final verdict of the apex court, the report said.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Sunday said that all orders and actions initiated by the Pakistan prime minister and president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order. The chief justice made the observation after taking notice of the current situation in the country following the dismissal of a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan by National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri and the subsequent dissolution of the NA by President Arif Alvi. A three-member bench of the top court comprising CJP Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar heard the case and issued notices to all the respondents, including President Alvi and deputy speaker of the NA, Dawn reported. 

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said that Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan and all characters involved in the "conspiracy" against the nation are guilty of high treason and should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution. The former premier's remarks came after Pak President Arif Alvi approved the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan to dissolve the National Assembly after a summary was sent by the premier in the wake of a no-trust move against him.

Former Pakistan Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Sunday that the Speaker's ruling, rejecting the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government, cannot be challenged. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Sunday took suo moto notice of dissolution of the National Assembly by the President. 

After drama in the Pakistan National Assembly, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed claimed on Sunday that PM Imran Khan may cling on to power for another 15 days. In a statement, the former security czar of the country said that the general elections in the country would not be held via electronic voting machines. He added that the Opposition should be happy that the technology is not being used in the next general elections. "I met the PM and I think Imran Khan will remain PM for 15 more days," said Rasheed, adding that he was constantly saying that elections were the right way forward, Geo News reported. On PM Imran Khan's advice, Pak President Arif Alvi approved the dissolution of the National Assembly on Prime Imran Khan's advice in a surprise move.

Former Pakistan federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Sunday that the Speaker's ruling cannot be challenged. Talking to the media outside the Supreme Court building on Sunday, he said the National Assembly speaker's ruling came after completion of the constitutional process over the no-trust motion. The PTI leader said that currently, there is no no-confidence motion in the Parliament as the President has dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of the Prime Minister. He said the election would be held in the country within 90 days.

3-member bench of Pakistan Supreme Court issues notice to parties over dissolution of assembly

Pakistan Supreme Court adjourns hearing of opposition's case till Monday over dissolution of assembly. 

Once the nation's highest security body confirms foreign conspiracy for regime change, everything else becomes irrelevant: Imran Khan

Opposition taken by surprise, still trying to make sense of whatever happened in Parliament today: Imran Khan

Imran Khan slams opposition as crisis looms in Pakistan in a media briefing 

Chief Justice of Pakistan reaches Supreme Court to review petitions filed (by Opposition leaders against the dissolution of National Assembly of Pakistan). 

"Absolutely not. Whatever happened today, Army has no role in it," said Babar Iftikhar, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations, in response to a question on Dissolution of National Assembly of Pakistan, this afternoon. 

Pakistan Supreme Court takes suo-moto notice of dissolution of Assembly by President Arif Alvi

Pakistan's former Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on Sunday said the Federal Cabinet has been dissolved, but Prime Minister Imran Khan will continue his duties under Article 224 of the Constitution. 

Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo-moto notice of the dissolution of the National Assembly by President Arif Alvi

Pakistan Army distances itself from assembly developments, says “Today's happening was a political procedure, Pakistan Army has nothing to do with it”.

The Pakistan cabinet has been dissolved but PM Imran Khan will continue his duties under article 224 of the constitution. 

Article 6 will apply to Imran Khan and the Speaker, says Shahbaz Sharif

Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry says Cabinet has been dissolved

Pakistan's Deputy Attorney General resigns

Imran Khan has now been appointed as caretaker PM 

Fresh elections in Pakistan will now be conducted within 90 days

The president of Pakistan has dissolved the National Assembly on Imran Khan's request

Opposition MPs sit on dharna inside the Pakistan National Assembly, waiting for Supreme Court order. 

MPs shouting Gaddar-e-Watan slogans againsImran

Imran Khan has directed the Islamabad administration to remove all additional security barriers taken in the last week

"Government has violated constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. The united opposition is not leaving parliament. Our lawyers are on their way to Supreme Court. We call on ALL institutions to protect, uphold, defend & implement the constitution of Pakistan"

- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Twitter

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan after his address to the nation

After the no-confidence motion was rejected, the opposition called a sit-in in the assembly

I congratulate every Pakistani on the Speaker's decision. The no-confidence motion was a foreign conspiracy against us. Pakistan should decide who should govern them: Imran Khan

I have written to the President to dissolve the assemblies. There should be elections in a democratic way. I call upon the people to Pakistan to prepare for elections: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is addressing the nation

Assembly proceedings adjourned till April 25 as deputy speaker terms motion 'unconstitutional'

We will do the first sehri in the new Pakistan but by Iftar we will enter the old Pakistan: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he has changed the game on the no-trust motion against him and the nation will enjoy it on Sunday when the National Assembly (NA) holds a vote on the motion. However, the Prime Minister also hinted that he will not accept defeat after the no-trust vote, Samaa TV reported.

In an exclusive interview with Samaa TV, Khan announced that the MNAs from his party will attend Sunday session.

His statement about not accepting defeat came on Saturday as he urged his supporters to hold protests.

"I have changed the game. The change is that earlier we had told our people (MNAs) not to go (to the NA on the day of no-trust vote) but now our people will go to the Assembly.

Pakistan Assembly proceedings have begun

Imran Khan is likely to address Pakistan in a while 

Media entry in Assembly has been closed, Press Gallery locked

Three PTI female activists taken into custody from parliament gate, whisked away by police, while chanting pro-Imran slogans

I sympathize with the people of PML-N. There is one family in which the father says he wants to be PM & the son is dreaming of becoming the CM. They have no shame. People of Pakistan hate them: Pak minister Ch Fawad Hussain

Nawaz Sharif will land in Islamabad or Peshawar instead of Lahore from where he will be brought to Lahore in a big procession, say sources

Islamabad police quits taking orders from Imran Khan govt, reports Geo News 

Most of Opposition MNAs including 22 defector PTI members reached National Assembly.

Imran Khan is sitting in his chamber keeping watch on the developments 

Imran Khan is likely to be placed under house-arrest following the no-trust vote, reports Pakistan media

Omar Sarfraz Cheema appointed new Governor of Punjab province 

"I guess they will arrest Imran Khan, they will not tolerate Imran Khan. 150 members may resign, there are serious threats to democracy. The only solution to this situation is elections," said Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Ahmed 

• Opposition moves no-trust motion against Pakistan Assembly speaker
• Governor of Punjab province sacked
• Opposition walks to Pakistan Assembly 
• Imran Khan asks youth to protest
• Shehbaz Sharif will not be PM, says Imran Khan
• Election for CM Punjab today

Pakistani paramilitary troops stand guard with riot gears outside the National Assembly, in Islamabad

A motorcyclist rides past a billboard with the picture of Imran Khan display outside the National Assembly, in Islamabad

Ahead of Imran Khan's no-trust vote, authorities in Islamabad have imposed section 144 in the city

If Imran Khan loses the vote, parliament would continue to function and the lawmakers in the National Assembly will elect a new prime minister to serve until August 2023, after which a general election is due within 60 days. However, the new premier can go for early elections before August 2023. Though the opposition parties have shown their strength in the assembly in the previous session and insisted on voting on the motion without having the support of PTI’s disgruntled members, the deputy speaker had adjourned the session for April 3 – Sunday at 11:30am.

Under clause (2) of Article 95 (vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister) of the Constitution, “a resolution referred to in clause (1) shall not be voted upon before the expiration of three days, or later than seven days, from the day on which such resolution is moved in the National Assembly.” Clause (4) of Article 95 adds that “If the resolution referred to in clause (1) is passed by a majority of the total membership of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister shall cease to hold office.”

Rule 37 (6) (Resolution for a vote of no-confidence against the Prime Minister) of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, also state that “the resolution shall not be voted upon before the expiry of three days, or later than seven days, from the day on which the resolution is moved in the Assembly.”

The Second Schedule of the NA rules defines the procedure for recording votes. Before voting commences, it states, that the speaker shall direct that the bells be rung for five minutes to enable members not present in the chamber to be present. Immediately after the bells stop ringing, all the entrances to the Lobby shall be locked and the Assembly staff posted at each entrance shall not allow any entry or exit through those entrances until the voting has concluded.

It adds that, "the Speaker shall then read out the resolution before the assembly and ask the members who wish to vote in favour of the resolution to pass in single file through the entrance where tellers shall be posted to record the votes. On reaching the desk of the tellers, each member shall, in turn, call out the division number allotted to him under the rules.

The tellers shall then mark off his number on the division list simultaneously calling out the name of the member. In order to ensure that his vote has been properly recorded, the member shall not move off until he has clearly heard the teller call out his name. After a member has recorded his vote, he shall not return to the Chamber until bells are rung under paragraph 3.

"When the Speaker finds that all the members who wished to vote have recorded their votes, he shall announce that the voting has concluded. Thereupon the Secretary shall cause the division list to be collected, count the recorded votes and present the result of the count to the Speaker.

The Speaker shall then direct that the bells be rung for two minutes to enable the members to return to the Chamber. After the bells stop ringing, the Speaker shall announce the result to the Assembly," it adds.

More than 100 members of the Pakistan Assembly have signed the no-confidence motion against Speaker Asad Qaiser

Islamabad imposes two-day ban on pillion riding 

Metro bus service to remain suspended for one day in Islamabad 

Zardari, Bilawal and Shahbaz reach Parliament House ahead of Imran Khan's no trust vote 

Federal government has sacked the Governor of Punjab province, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar. Deputy speaker of Punjab assembly will be the acting governor in the meantime: Pakistan media

Hours before the crucial vote on the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime minister Imran Khan, the ruling party has doubled up efforts to gain support from the public as Pakistan PM called the youth of the country to protest for two days against the "foreign conspiracy" to oust him.
He said that this conspiracy was hatched against his government as Pakistan's National Assembly is going to vote against him on a no-confidence motion on Sunday, Geo TV reported.

While responding to a live Question and Answer session with the people on Saturday, Imran Khan said, "...I want you to protest for a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan."

Ahead of the crucial no-confidence vote, Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured his ruling party lawmakers of victory while Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif said that a “treason" case should be first registered against the premier.

Ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and its leadership have decided to incite violence in Islamabad as the National Assembly is all set to vote on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

A senior Pakistani journalist, during Geo News programme "Naya Pakistan" on Saturday, said that sources have informed him that the government and PTI leadership have decided to stop the Opposition lawmakers from exiting the parliament lodges and entering the lower house.

According to the media outlet, whether the Opposition enters the Assembly or even if they are outside, "they will be beaten," the Geo tv journalist Hamid Mir said while quoting sources after the Prime Minister urged the youth and PTI supporters to protest "peacefully" for two days.

Ahead of no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, a curfew has been imposed in capital Islamabad, fearing incidents of violence.

Pakistan's Punjab Assembly (PA) will elect a new leader of the house on Sunday following Usman Buzdar's resignation as the country is in the midst of political uncertainty as the vote on the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is also scheduled to be held today. This development came after the session that was held yesterday after hours of discussion between the Opposition and the leader of the house.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan has urged the Tehreek-e-Insaf legislators to go to National Assembly today during the proceedings of no-confidence motion, reported Radio Pakistan.

The Human Rights Commission (HRCP) strongly warned the federal government to refrain from resorting to any unconstitutional measures to prevent members of Parliament from attending Sunday's National Assembly session where a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan will be held."Equally, state institutions have no right to interfere in what is a parliamentary process. In neither case have such moves resolved or even allayed Pakistan's chronic troubles as a fledgling democracy," the HRCP said in a statement.