On March 24, violating constitutional provisions and parliamentary procedures the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly disallowed members from presenting the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan when it was found that the majority of them were supportive of the no-trust move. Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri arbitrarily decided that the entire opposition comprising over 197 elected members of Parliament, was involved in a foreign plot to overthrow the government. It was claimed that this was also endorsed by the National Security Committee. This was sheer nonsense as the government failed to make public the NSC’s proceedings supporting the view. A day before the fateful National Assembly session, the PM had claimed that he still had a “trump card” or two up his sleeve that he would play a day before the opposition’s no-confidence motion. To avert attention from the constitutional violation, which has thrown the country into the dark abyss of a constitutional crisis, the PM has called on his party to prepare for elections.
Keeping aside the issue of the alleged foreign conspiracy, the Supreme Court wants to determine the legality of the Deputy Speaker’s action. In view of the situation on ground this requires urgency. The government has taken the position that the Curt is not entitled to overturn the Deputy Speaker’s ruling. What the government wants is a prolongation of the court proceedings. Finding that it is likely to lose its government in Punjab, the PTI has urgently started preparations for elections. Its priority is to jail the main opposition leaders. This done, the PM will hold countrywide meetings where he will deliver high octane speeches to raise an anti-US wave, promise new pies in the sky and play the religious card.
The delay in the Supreme Court’s verdict helps Mr Khan. He has already started issuing party tickets, with 135 party loyalists being the first recipients. He has directed party members to take out processions on daily basis. President Arif Alvi has permitted Mr Khan to continue to hold office till the appointment of a caretaker prime minister. Delay in the court’s decision would make it difficult to reverse the steps being taken by the PM.
