Islamabad, 14 July 2022
Following the verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan today declaring dissolution of parliament by immediate past government of Imran Khan as illegal and against country's constitution, Pakistani Federal government has constituted a special commission to look into the possibilities to charge former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his partners on treason charges under Article 6 of the Constitution
Article 6 states that any person who "abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason".
Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, a member of five top judges panel stated in an additional note in the judgment "Whether these acts attract Article 6 of the Constitution (high treason) is also left open to be determined by the parliamentarians to ponder should they leave open the doors for such unconstitutional acts or take suitable measures to stop such like mess in future,”
Maryem Aurangzeb, Minister of Information of Pakistan announced today after the federal cabinet decision on formation of the commission headed by Law Minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, which will present its suggestions in the next federal cabinet meeting.
The committee would present a report on the implementation of the points put forward by the SC and suggest an inquiry under Article 6 and other laws to prevent constitutional violations from occurring in the future.
The top court's detailed verdict stated that Suri had breached his constitutional duty by dismissing the no-confidence motion.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the April 3 ruling failed to qualify for the protection of the internal proceedings of parliament under Article 69(1) as it was “not the outcome of a vote in the national assembly instead, it was a unilateral decision”. The law states: "The validity of any proceedings in Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) shall not be called in question on the ground of any irregularity of procedure."
Justice Bandial also observed that the controversial action by the deputy speaker triggered a chain of events, the most concerning aspect of which was that it allowed the then PM to claim the constitutionally repugnant outcome of avoiding the no-trust motion without a vote by the assembly.
The government has hailed the verdict, however, former Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing at a by-election campaign said that he was 'deeply hurt' by the judgment.
Information Minister Maryem Aurangzeb said, ' now was the time to decide whether the "murder of Pakistan's Constitution, democracy, and laws" was acceptable.
Imran Khan is also facing number of investigations including money laundering; misappropriation of millions of dollars received in donations; as well as theft of millions of dollars of items received as official gifts; and mega corruption in government lands acquired under his present 3rd wife Bushra Bibi name, etc.
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