The Supreme Court of Pakistan, in a split 3-2 decision, has stated that in case of a vote in a legislature, the votes of parliamentarians switching loyalties cannot be counted. A five-member bench of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has ruled on a presidential reference, which sought its interpretation of Article 63A of the Constitution.
According to the apex court, the article concerned cannot be interpreted alone. In addition to the Chief Justice, the bench consisted of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail.
The former PTI-led government had invoked the apex court to stop its dissenting lawmakers from voting against Imran Khan and had sought a lifetime disqualification for those who attempted to deviate from the party’s voting direction.
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