SC dismisses review pleas against declaring Suri’s ruling unconstitutional

The Supreme Court has dismissed the review petitions against declaring the ruling of then National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri as unconstitutional on the basis of their being ineffective, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A five-judge larger bench headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Aminuddin Khan, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel conducted the hearing on Monday.

Former prime minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi withdrew their review petitions. Their lawyer said that their petitions have become ineffective. The court disposed of the petitions on the ground of ineffectiveness.

However, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser's lawyer Naeem Bukhari did not withdraw his petition and argued that he wants the court decision to be annulled, as the court could not interfere in the affairs of Parliament.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel remarked that a misconception has been created that the judiciary could not interfere in the affairs of Parliament.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed the review petition of the former speaker of the National Assembly saying that there is no ground for review.

It should be noted that on April 7, 2022, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the then deputy speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling to reject the no-confidence motion brought by then opposition parties against prime minister Imran Khan and the President's decision to dissolve the National Assembly. .

Imran Khan and Arif Alvi had filed review petitions against the decision of the larger bench of the Supreme Court on the suo motu notice case, requesting the apex court to review the April 7 decision of the 5-member larger bench.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori