CJP Bandial to hear petition seeking SC’s involvement to prevent ‘anarchic situation’ ahead of no-trust vote

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) will shortly begin hearing a petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), urging the court to direct a peaceful execution of proceedings for the no-confidence vote in the National Assembly against Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan.

A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Munib Akhtar are scheduled to start hearing the petition at 1pm on Saturday.

The plea filed by SCBA with the Supreme Court on Thursday said that circumstances involving a confrontation between the government and the opposition could trigger an “anarchic situation” in the country.

“It is evident from the political history of our country that preventing the constitutional process from taking its course has produced dire consequence for democracy and rule of law,”said the petition.

The SCBA sought the court’s directions for all state functionaries “to act strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law and they be restrained from acting in any manner detrimental to and unwarranted by the Constitution and the law”.