Pakistan SC calls for no-trust vote on April 9

In a setback for Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, the country's Supreme Court on Thursday night set aside the rejection of the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the National Assembly. A five-judge bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court has delivered a unanimous verdict, terming the National Assembly Deputy Speaker's decision to dismiss the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government as unconstitutional. The bench has ordered the reinstatement of the National Assembly in contravention of President Arif Alvi's decision to dissolve the lower house of Pakistan's Parliament. 
In addition, opposition parties have been granted permission to hold the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan government. The Court has ordered voting on no-trust motion on April 9. The Supreme Court has also declared the order of fresh elections as 'null and void'. The court has also ruled out a review petition. The five-judge bench stated that the Speaker of the National Assembly cannot adjourn the session till the vote of no-confidence is moved on the floor of the house.Pakistan's Supreme Court further clarified that its decision will in no way impact Article 63A of the country's Constitution. The Supreme Court's verdict spells trouble for the Imran Khan government, which effectively fell short of the majority mark of 172 in the country's 342-member National Assembly last week. As per reports, opposition parties have the support of 199 legislators, while Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has the support of merely 144 legislators.