Opposition leaders have all praised the top court’s ‘historic’ decision to declare the dismissal of the no-confidence motion by the National Assembly’s deputy speaker contrary to the law and constitution, saying the verdict has saved not just the constitution but also the state.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said his party is ready to fight off inflation with the support of the masses. He welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and termed it the saviour of the constitution. “The Supreme Court’s verdict is in line with the expectations of the masses as it will further strengthen the Parliament and its supremacy,” he said while talking to the media after the verdict. “We are grateful to the Supreme Court for this unanimous decision. The top court has restored the constitution and its sanctity through this decision.”
In her reaction, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said the decision had buried the politics of those violating the constitution. Reacting to the verdict, PML-N supreme leader and three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif took to Twitter, urging the restoration of the constitutional rights of parliament.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman felicitated the nation and prayed that the country is pulled out of the current economic crisis. He asked the people to observe Youm-e-Tashakkur (day of thanksgiving) on the top court’s verdict on Friday (today). “This is a victory of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” he added. “I congratulate the entire nation as it is the victory of every Pakistani, the constitution, democracy and judiciary,” he said.
Likewise, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reacted by saying “democracy is the best revenge”. “This decision will be written in the history of Pakistan in golden words,” he said, adding, “This verdict has buried the doctrine of necessity.” According to him, the National Assembly will now complete the proceedings on the no-trust vote. “This is a decision not in favour of the opposition but in favour of the Constitution.” He said PPP and the opposition have succeeded and recalled a famous English verse, “First they ignore you, then they mock you, then they fight you and then you win”. “Democracy is the best revenge and we hope to come up to the expectations of the people in future. I congratulate the Pakistani nation and ask them to celebrate the victory of democracy,” he said. The party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated the masses on the development.
The top court 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 prime minister did not have the right to advise the president to dissolve the assembly […] all the decisions made till date have been nullified,” the top court’s ruling said.
