ISLAMABAD: The PTI — which was removed from power last month through a vote of no-confidence — rejoiced the Supreme Court’s verdict on Article 63(A) and demanded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shabaz resign from office.
The PTI had, before the no-confidence motion, said that the defected members of the parliament should not be allowed to vote and called for unseating them.
‘This is Imran Khan’s win’
Responding to the verdict, former information minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said PM Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab CM Hamza Shahbaz have “lost the majority”.
The PTI leader, in a press conference, said the PML-N has already lost three out of 173 votes, while if President Arif Alvi summons a session for a vote of confidence, then the prime minister will have 169 votes. Similarly, according to Chaudhry, Hamza also has fewer votes than required.
“As a result of this decision, the governments of both — Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz — have come to an end,” the ex-information and law minister said, asking them to resign.
He then urged President Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly as heading towards new elections was the “only way for Pakistan to achieve stability.”
“This is Imran Khan’s win. It has been confirmed that these people [dissidents] votes will not be counted and they have been disqualified,” the PTI leader added.
‘Lotay farigh’
Former federal minister and PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar congratulated the people of Pakistan and said: “Lotay farigh (turncoats have been defeated).”
The PTI leader, in a tweet, asked the government to resign immediately as it did not “have the right” to rule the country for another day.
‘PML-N comes to an end’
While addressing PTI’s jalsa in Kohat, Senator Faisal Javed said after the Supreme Court’s interpretation, the “PML-N has come to an end”.
Hamza is no more the chief minister, Javed said, adding that after Punjab, the incumbent government in the Centre would also fall.
‘Immediate elections’
In a tweet, former foreign minister and PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, noting that it would help curb horse-trading in the future.
“From today onwards, there is no standing of the incumbent Punjab government,” the PTI leader said.
He added: “The imported federal government, which came to power through a foreign conspiracy with the help of a curse like floor-crossing, should also announce immediate elections.”