Opposition submits no-trust motion against Parvez Elahi

• PML-N MPAs Sami Ullah Khan, Khalil Tahir and Khawaja Salman Rafique filed resolution.
• Assembly will meet on April 16 in which a new CM would be elected.
• Supreme Court of Pakistan restored National Assembly and declared deputy speaker's ruling unconstitutional.

LAHORE: After submitting a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, the joint Opposition filed a no-trust motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi on Thursday, The News reported.

Parvez, who is the leader of PML-Q, is running as a candidate for the chief minister slot against PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz. 

PML-N MPAs Sami Ullah Khan, Khalil Tahir and Khawaja Salman Rafique filed the resolution to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat. The political crisis in the country deepened after the PTI submitted a no-confidence move against Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari after he summoned a session on April 6 rather than 16. Under the law, he also cannot chair a session. 

The assembly will meet on April 16 in which a new CM would be elected.

SC restores National Assembly, declares deputy speaker's ruling unconstitutional

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday restored the National Assembly after it declared the government's decision to dissolve the assembly and NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling against the Constitution.

The top court has ordered National Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon the session on Saturday (April 9) no later than 10:30am to allow the vote on the no-confidence motion against the premier.

"In consequence of the foregoing, it is declared that at all material times the Prime Minister was under the bar imposed by the Explanation to clause (1) of Article 58 of the Constitution and continues to remain so restricted. He could not, therefore, have at any time advised the President to dissolve the Assembly as contemplated by clause (1) of Article 58," the court's order read.

"In consequence of the foregoing, it is declared that the advice tendered by the Prime Minister on or about 03.04.2022 to the President to dissolve the Assembly was contrary to the Constitution and of no legal effect," said the order.