'Must uphold constitution first, move towards polls later': Fazlur Rehman

• Supreme Court should take action not delay it, PDM chief Fazl says.
• "The entire country has been pushed into a crisis," Fazl says.
• Qasim Suri's decision was "controversial, unconstitutional", he adds.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Fazlur Rehman said Monday that the Opposition could move toward elections once the Constitution has been upheld in the country.

Fazl's comments came after Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, saying it was backed by "foreign powers".

Following this, the prime minister was quick to address the nation and congratulate them for "their success" as he asked Pakistanis to gear up for the elections.

Read more: 'Even if speaker cites Article 5, no-confidence motion cannot be rejected'

The storm had not settled yet but the prime minister went ahead and advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly, who within a short time, followed suit and dissolved it. The matter is in the Supreme Court.

In his press conference today, a charged Fazl said in 1988, Balochistan's assembly was dissolved but the court restored it. "The court should take action against the recent violation of the Constitution and not delay it."

The PDM chief lashed out at the deputy speaker for not taking the Opposition's input while making the decision and censured the president for obeying the prime minister's directives without asking any questions.

Read more: PTI proposes ex-CJP Gulzar Ahmed as caretaker prime minister

"The entire country has been pushed into a crisis [...] our only demand is that the deputy speaker's ruling is declared illegal," Fazl said, terming Suri's decision as "controversial and unconstitutional".

The PDM chief said the deputy speaker issued a "controversial" decision based on a "controversial letter" as he warned the PTI and the prime minister that the Opposition would "not back down".

"All of these unconstitutional moves are being made to come into power again — illegally," the PDM chief said, adding that the prime minister has sought a safe exit by dissolving the assemblies.

Read more: PM Imran questions why Opposition approached SC after elections were announced

Fazl said the Opposition wants the courts to uphold the law and declare the deputy speaker's decision illegal.