Members have to follow party line: Supreme Court

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SC dismisses pleas challenging 26th constitutional amendments

ISLAMABAD: The hearing on the presidential reference filed in the Supreme Court for interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution and the petition of the Supreme Court Bar Council to stop the clash on the day of no-confidence motion continued today.

A five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the case. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Mazhar Alam Mian Khel and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel are also part of the bench.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked, “The vote will remain in any case. It is insulting not to count the votes. After counting the votes, we will see what to do with it. If they give vote, then left the party then the matter will go to the Election Commission and the Supreme Court. The real issue is the period of disqualification.

The attorney general also admitted in court that without the vote, 63A cannot be taken. It remains to be seen what will happen to the member after the vote.

The Chief Justice remarked during the hearing that there is a procedure in Article 63A, the spirit of Article 63A cannot be ignored, the function of the court is not to fill vacancies, such matters should be resolved in Parliament instead of reference.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice of Pakistan said, “Mr. Attorney General, we have already issued notices to the political parties. On this, the Attorney General said that all the political parties are already represented in the provinces.”

The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that notices are being issued to all the Provincial Advocate Generals, notices are being issued to all the four provinces for assistance. Regular notices will be issued to the provinces first, we talk about the FIR regarding attack on Sindh House.

Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan said that JUI-F and PTI met the district administration, JUI-F has requested to sit on Kashmir Highway, which is the main road that leads to the airport. Members of all parties come to Islamabad only after passing through Kashmir Highway.