Prime Minister Imran Khan’s abrupt decision to request the president to dissolve the assemblies of the country and announce elections has been met with uproar from the opposition with many calling the decision unconstitutional, treasonous and demanding the Supreme Court to take action.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to criticize PM Khan, saying he committed high treason. He blamed him for pushing the country into anarchy promising grave consequences for the violation of the constitution.
It is nothing short of a high treason. IK has pushed the country into anarchy. Niazi & his cohort will not be allowed to go scot-free. There will be consequences for blatant & brazen violation of the Constitution. Hope SC will play it's role to uphold the Constitution.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 3, 2022
Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party Co-chairman Bilawal Butto Zardari commented on the decision by the Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri to reject the no-confidence motion altogether saying it was a violation of the constitution. In a video message posted on his Twitter account, he said that their lawyers were approaching the Supreme Court regarding the matter.
Government has violated constitution. did not allow voting on no confidence motion. The united opposition is not leaving parliament. Our lawyers are on their way to Supreme Court. We call on ALL institutions to protect, uphold, defend & implement the constitution of Pakistan 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/sThqng0SI5
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 3, 2022
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Maryam Nawaz condemned the incident saying that no one should be allowed to distort the constitution as was done today. She called for PM Khan to be punished saying that the law of the jungle would prevail if accountability was not done.
اپنی کرسی کو بچانے کی خاطر آئینِ پاکستان کا حلیہ بگاڑنے کی اجازت کسی کو نہیں دی جانی چاہیے۔ اس جرم پر اگر اس پاگل اور جنونی شخص کو سزا نا دی گئی تو آج کے بعد اس ملک میں جنگل کا قانون چلے گا!
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 3, 2022
Maryam also shared a picture of PM Khan surrounded by his advisors and trustees calling on the public to remember their faces. She called for them all to be tried under Article 6.
Mark their faces. This is the group, the mafia, that has attacked & abrogated the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. They all must be tried under article 6. pic.twitter.com/0TJMfULglO
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 3, 2022
PML-N lawmaker Ahsan Iqbal also mirrored Maryam’s statements saying that the premier had subverted the constitution and that he would be tried under Article 6.
Imran Khan will be tried under article 6 now. He has subverted the constitution.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) April 3, 2022
Former Senator Farhatullah Babar said, “What happened in National Assembly today is fascism in name of democracy. It’s not violation of the constitution but abrogation of it. Unacceptable.”
What happened in National Assembly today is fascism in name of democracy.
It’s not violation of the Constitution but abrogation of it. Unacceptable— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) April 3, 2022
Former finance minister Miftah Ismail said that PM Khan was gone either way and that Pakistan’s polity and economy was finally on the path to heal.
The courts may yet decide to strike down this illegality today or not, but either way IK will be gone. Pakistan’s polity and economy will begin to heal. But some people’s shameful and cowardly behaviour will remain for all history. 3/3
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) April 3, 2022
PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar called on the chief justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to immediately take notice of the incident and initiate proceedings against PM Khan.
What the govt has done today is blatant violation of the constitution and the rules. Supreme Court cannot and should not sit by as a mere spectator. Chief Justice should immediately take to the bench and save the country from a constitutional crisis!
— Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar (@Mustafa_PPP) April 3, 2022
