SC verdict on defection clause is against the constitution: PTI’s Salman Raja

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed that it was the black day in the history of the country’s constitution as today’s verdicts is against the constitution of Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned its 2022 verdict related to the defection clause under Article 63-A of the Constitution by accepted a review petition against it. The court’s ruling stated that the defecting lawmakers' votes should indeed be counted, revoking the apex court's previous judgment.

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Aminuddin Khan, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, heard the review petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in June 2022. As all the sides concluded their arguments, the judges held consultations inside the courtroom and later CJP Isa pronounced the unanimous brief verdict striking down the 2022 ruling regarding Article 63-A interpretation. Effectively withdrawing its opinion on the presidential reference regarding Article 63-A, Justice Isa said detailed decision will be released later.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, PTI’s Salman Akram said SC decision has given PTI seats to the PDM whom the people of Pakistan had disapproved. Raja claimed that today’s decision is also a violation of Article 8. After this verdict, the proposed amendment bill will be easily approved and all illegal things that were happening in the country will become legal.

He said that after the amendments, people will be picked up and put in jail for years without giving them right to justice. It is a worrisome situation where state is going now. He said in the name of national security, people will be killed in this country.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif