Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has observed why should not the apex court proceed against former National Assembly deputy speaker and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Qasim Suri for abrogating the Constitution.
“Qasim Suri did not hold [voting] on the no-confidence motion. He became the cause of the constitutional crisis in the country,” the CJP remarked while referring to the 2022 crisis related to the ouster of then-prime minister Imran Khan via parliamentary vote.
The CJP said it was suggested that Suri be tried under Article 6 for committing treason. “Then tell us, why we should not proceed against you on abrogation of Constitution?”
The CJP made these remarks during the hearing of a plea filed by Suri in 2019 against the election tribunal’s decision to declare his election from NA-265 (Quetta- II) void on September 27, same year.
In October 2019, a three-member bench of the apex court headed by then Justice Umar Ata Bandial suspended the order of the election tribunal and restored the NA membership of Qasim Suri till the matter was decided by the court.
Baloch leader Lashkari Raisani had challenged the Suri’s victory from the Quetta’s constituency in the 2018 elections.
The matter has been lying pending before the apex court since then.
A three-member headed by the CJP took up the matter today (Tuesday).
During the hearing of the case, Suri’s counsel Naeem Bukhari told the bench that the matter of his client’s disqualification and re-election in his constituency has now become infructuous.
At which, the counsel for Raisani said Suri served as the deputy speaker illegally and demanded that he should be asked to return the perks and privileges that he “enjoyed” during the stay period.
The CJP said the Balochistan High Court (BHC) tribunal had directed to re-conduct the elections in Suri’s NA-265 constituency.
Lawyer Bukhari said his client had stepped down as the National Assembly member.
“Then why did you file an appeal?” the CJP inquired.
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