ISLAMABAD: Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan said on Thursday that the April 3 voting on the no-trust motion in the parliament will be held peacefully without any hindrance or obstruction, as the law demands.

“The procedure meant for holding the no-confidence vote against the prime minister will be followed strictly in letter and spirit,” he told Dawn soon after his meeting with the prime minister.

The assurance came after statements by some leaders of the ruling party that 100,000 people would be present outside the parliament house when lawmakers vote on the no-confidence motion on Sunday.

“I have already assured the Supreme Court on behalf of the government during a hearing on the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) petition and that will be adhered to strictly,” he said.

Says procedure in motion against PM to be followed ‘in letter and spirit’

During the March 21 hearing, the AGP assured the Supreme Court that no lawmaker would be “physically obstructed” in any manner from entering the National Assembly on the voting day. “I had a discussion with the prime minister and conveyed the displeasure of the apex court on the March 19 Sindh House breach by PTI activists. The PM acknowledged that there should be no room for the mob rule,” he told the court.

However, Justice Munib Akhtar observed that the assurance should not be just for the first day, but for each day of the sessions.

Political tensions reached fever pitch earlier this month when both the ruling PTI and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a multi-party opposition alliance, announced public rallies at D-Chowk — a stone’s throw from the presidency and the parliament. However, both sides shifted venues elsewhere after local authorities expressed concerns over the security of sensitive state installations in the area.

Later, Prime Minister Imran Khan shared a “threat letter” during a public rally on Sunday, claiming that it was evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to topple his government.

When the AGP was asked whether the letter also came under discussion during his meeting with the prime minister, he said the meeting was regarding the legal perspective surrounding current matters and the letter had nothing to do with him. The AGP also explained that the meeting was “not very long but fruitful”.

SC moved against letter

Meanwhile, citizen Syed Tariq Badar has petitioned the Supreme Court, urging it to direct the prime minister to submit the “threat letter” to the Supreme Court for perusal.

Moved through Advocate GM Chaudhry on behalf of the petitioner, the petition sought the constitution of a judicial inquiry commission of Supreme Court or high court judges under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 2017 and fix responsibility for necessary prosecution.

If the letter contained alleged contents and material that violated the laws and the Constitution, causing a threat to security, integrity and solidarity of the state, then directions be issued by the apex court to the respondents to act according to the legal and constitutional obligations and duties, the petition contended.

In case it was proved to be right, a reference against delinquent political parties be made by the federal government for the dissolution of the parties under Section 212 of the Elections Act 2017 in the interest and integrity of the country.

The respondents in the petition include the federation of Pakistan through Prime Minister Office, the National Security Council chairman, the National Assembly speaker, the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, defence, and law and justice.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2022