ISLAMABAD: The federal government has hinted at filing references against the PTI’s top brass under Article 6 after a Supreme Court judgment in the National Assembly deputy speaker’s ruling case. The Supreme Court issued its detailed judgment in the suo motu case on former NA deputy speaker Qasim Suri’s ruling on the no-confidence motion against ex-prime minister Imran Khan and said it was not satisfied with the proof as insufficient evidence was presented to support PTI’s claim of foreign interference.
In an additional note, Justice Mazahar Alam Khan Miankhel observed that President Arif Alvi, then PM Khan, then NA speaker Asad Qaiser, ex-deputy speaker, and former law minister Chaudhry had misused their authority.
“Whether these acts attract Article 6 of the Constitution (high treason) is also left open to be determined by the parliamentarians to ponder whether they should leave open the doors to such unconstitutional acts or take suitable measures to stop such a mess in future,” he had suggested.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said: “We have started works to file a reference under Article 6. Only the federal government has the authority to file cases under Articles 5 and 6.”
The interior minister said that the top court has given a “historic” verdict on the former deputy speaker’s ruling. “This decision has accepted the rule of law and the rule of people.”
Sanaullah said that the court used the words “blatant violation” in its judgement which has led to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s “political demise”.
“Imran Khan violated the Constitution for his benefit […] in line with the order, the president, the then-prime minister, and the then-deputy speaker violated the Constitution,” he said.
He added that other than the treason case, there was another way to punish the PTI leaders.
“The NA speaker will move the election commission seeking to unseat and disqualify them (PTI MNAs, including Imran Khan),” he added.
Sanaullah added that he would also seek the federal cabinet’s permission to arrest the PTI chairman.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said that the detailed judgment issued by the SC on the vote of no-confidence has “exposed the lies and propaganda” by Imran Khan and his party leaders. –Agencies
