ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Thursday demanded an investigation into the events leading up to and post the no-confidence motion that led to former prime minister Imran Khan’s ouster.
Ex-deputy speaker Qasim Suri had termed the no-trust motion against Khan “unconstitutional” and dismissed it on April 3, and following this, the then-prime minister advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the assemblies and he followed suit.
But the then-Opposition filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking the nullification of the government’s move. The top court then on April 7, declared the government’s decision to dissolve the assembly and Suri’s ruling against the constitution.
The SC had asked to hold the voting on the no-confidence motion on April 9, but Khan had the speaker prolong the session. But near midnight, the speaker resigned from office.
Being the senior member of the panel of chairs, PML-N MNA Ayaz Sadiq chaired a session on early April 10 and held the voting no-confidence motion which ultimately led to Khan’s ouster.
“This house must form a high-level parliamentary commission or committee to investigate the events leading up to April 3, post-April 3, of the night of April 9 and 10, and the events that have taken place to date after [the no-confidence motion was successful],” Bilawal said on the floor of the National Assembly.
The PPP chairman said the “attacks on the constitution and the house” should be taken seriously, and an investigation should be held to determine who was at fault.
“Even the Supreme Court termed the previous government’s acts of April 3 as unconstitutional […] in the manner that the former government to escape from challenge of no-confidence, it was unconstitutional and the people of Pakistan demand accountability,” he added.
