There were updates on the political crisis in Pakistan on April 7: 3 hours ago (18:32 GMT)
Khan to convene the cabinet
The prime minister convened a cabinet meeting on Friday to discuss the situation in the country. He said he would also address the nation. “My message to our nation is that I will always continue to fight for Pack until the last ball,” he wrote on Twitter. I have invited an mtg cabinet tomorrow as well as our mtg parl party; & tomorrow afternoon I will address the nation. My message to our nation is that I will always and will continue to fight for Pak until the last ball. – Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 7, 2022 4 hours ago (17:30 GMT)
“Politics of lies, deceit buried”: Leader of the opposition
Opposition leader Sehbaz Sharif said the Supreme Court ruling meant “the people of Pakistan have won” and congratulated all those who “supported, defended and campaigned for the supremacy of the constitution”. “Today, the politics of lies, deception and allegations are buried,” he wrote on Twitter. Season day! Mubarak to all those who supported, defended and fought for the supremacy of the Constitution. Today, the politics of lies, deception and allegations are buried. The people of Pakistan have won! God bless Pakistan 🇵🇰 – Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 7, 2022 4 hours ago (17:12 GMT)
“Unfortunate” decision of the Supreme Court: Former Minister
Fawad Chaudhry of the ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said the ruling by the country’s highest court was “unfortunate” and “has exacerbated the political crisis” in Pakistan. “Immediate elections could have brought stability to the country. Unfortunately, the importance of people has been ignored. “Let’s see how things go,” he wrote on Twitter. 5 hours ago (16:19 GMT)
“Historic landmark day” for the Constitution: Lawyer
Supreme Court Justice Haider Zaman Quresi said the country’s Supreme Court ruling was a “historic milestone” for the constitution, Pakistan and all democratic forces in the country. “When the [no-confidence] “The movement continues; we are very confident that we have the numbers we will achieve in our movement,” he told Al Jazeera. “The Supreme Court has ruled today that the hearing will not be adjourned by the speaker. “In this very meeting, the new head of the house will be elected, that is, the prime minister.” “We will have a coalition government of opposition forces and we will build bridges and get Pakistan out of this economic collapse brought to us by this outgoing government.” Daniyal Aziz, former privatization minister and leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), shows a newspaper as he speaks to the media at the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad, Pakistan on April 7, 2022 [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters] 6 hours ago (15:43 GMT)
Pakistani court rules blocking no-confidence vote unconstitutional
Pakistan’s supreme court has ruled that blocking a no-confidence motion against ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan and dissolving parliament would be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court also ordered that the country’s parliament be reconvened on April 9 to proceed with the vote of no confidence. The court said that the decision of the chairman of the assembly not to allow the vote of no confidence on Sunday “is declared contrary to the constitution and has no legal force and is annulled”. 6 hours ago (15:10 GMT)
New elections only solution: Former minister
Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that regardless of the court ruling, Pakistan would head to new elections, as this would be the only solution to all the problems the country was facing. 7 hours ago (14:47 GMT)
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: Vice President’s vertical decision is not enough
“The vice-president’s decision was against the constitution and the law. “It will not be enough to declare it invalid,” said former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Sharif, who is based in London, issued the statement before the Supreme Court ruling on the speaker’s decision rejecting the motion of censure against Prime Minister Kahn. He said the constitution and the national interest demand that the constitutional powers of the parliament be restored immediately so that the parliament can carry out its responsibilities and decisions in accordance with the constitution and the law. 7 hours ago (14:20 GMT)
Pakistan raises interest rates to tackle rising inflation, falling reserves
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced a 250 basis point increase in the key policy rate, raising it to 12.25 percent in a “strong and cautious policy response”. This response was necessary due to the deteriorating outlook for inflation and the increase in external stability risks since its last meeting, the central bank said in a statement. 7 hours ago (14:14 GMT)
The electorate must reconsider the attitude of the elections: Former minister
The Pakistan Electoral Commission should reconsider its position that it will take at least four months for the polls to take place, former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry wrote on Twitter. “Attempting to hold elections for more than 90 days would be a serious violation of the Constitution. “The economy can not tolerate seven months of political turmoil.” Security personnel from the Frontier Constabulary guard outside the Supreme Court where petitions for the dissolution of parliament are being heard by the country’s Prime Minister, in Islamabad, Pakistan on April 7, 2022. [Anjum Naveed/AP Photo] 9 hours ago (12:33 GMT)
Pakistan’s poll says new elections are not possible in 90 days
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) responded to President Arif Alvi by saying that elections could not be held in 90 days, as announced earlier. The poll said it would take at least four months to complete the constituency delimitation process and other preparations for the election. On Wednesday, the president asked the ECP to propose dates for the country’s general election. 11 hours ago (10:59 GMT)
The court hearing was adjourned, the verdict on Thursday afternoon
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has postponed the hearing of the Supreme Court and says that the verdict will be issued at 19:30 (14:30 GMT) on Thursday. Supreme Judge Umar Ata Bandial noted that the decision taken by the Vice President of the National Assembly had been found to be “wrong”. He also said that the court will annul the decision and then see how it will proceed in the future. However, the judge stated that the court was not going to determine the responsibility and said that the court would proceed in the national interest and according to the practical possibilities. The Supreme Court is hearing several petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the deputy speaker of parliament, who rejected a motion of censure submitted by the opposition on April 3rd. MAT police officers guard the premises of the Supreme Court [Aamir Qureshi/AFP] 11 hours ago (10:47 GMT)
Four possible outcomes of the Supreme Court verdict
Here are four possible outcomes of the Supreme Court ruling expected later Thursday: 11 hours ago (10:08 GMT)
The leader of the official opposition addresses the Supreme Court
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sehbaz Sharif rises to address the five judges in the Supreme Court. “I am not a lawyer, but an ordinary person,” he said, according to Geo TV. “If the vice-president’s decision is wrong, then parliament should be restored.” Earlier, Supreme Judge Umar Ata Bandial said it was clear that the vice-president’s April 3 ruling, which rejected the motion of censure against Prime Minister Imran Khan, was wrong. “The real question is what will happen next,” the judge said. Pakistani opposition leader Sehbaz Sharif leaves after hearing outside Islamabad Supreme Court building [Aamir Qureshi/AFP] 12 hours ago (09:53 GMT)
Security enhanced in Supreme Court: TV report
Security measures in the Supreme Court have been increased in view of the crucial verdict. Local Geo TV broadcast visual images of MAT taking their seats around the courthouse. The main roads leading to the court have been blocked. The development came after Chief Justice Bandial said the court could announce its verdict on Thursday. “God willing, we are completing today,” he said. 12 hours ago (09:16 GMT)
“Where is the vice president’s signature?”
Supreme Court Justice Judge Jamal Khan Mandokhel asks why the vice president’s decision rejecting the motion of censure against Prime Minister Imran Khan was not signed by him, according to the Dawn news website. The decision, which rejected the opposition proposal, was read by Qassim Suri in the absence of National Assembly Speaker Assad Kaiser.
