The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) issued on Thursday a detailed decision regarding the review petition against its interpretation of Article 63-A, a provision concerning parliamentary conduct.
According to details, the court had approved the review petition, declaring the majority judges’ decision of 17 May 2022 unconstitutional. The apex court’s latest judgment highlighted that the prior ruling is null and void, asserting that it contravenes the Constitution.
The court had chosen to uphold the opinion of the dissenting judges, which challenges the earlier interpretation that favoured the majority.
The reference concerning Article 63-A was submitted by former president Arif Alvi, amid an ongoing political crisis marked by a motion of no confidence against the then prime minister. The court noted that Alvi’s actions may had entangled him in political disputes rather than focusing on legal matters.
Furthermore, the decision emphasised that the questions raised in the former president's reference did not meet the legal standards required for judicial scrutiny. Instead of addressing legal queries, the court found that the reference sought opinions based on ethical considerations, which are not within the judiciary's purview.
