New Delhi: A day after taking suo motu cognizance of the political crisis in the country, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing by a day on the rejection of a no-confidence motion by the National Assembly deputy speaker against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the subsequent dissolution of Parliament.
Pakistan's Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday said that a "reasonable order" would be issued on the legality of the current political situation in the country, PTI reported.
Earlier on Sunday, after the opposition parties moved a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly to dethrone Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri rejected the motion, calling it 'unconstitutional'.
President Arif Alvi then dissolved the National Assembly on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose party has lost the majority in the 342-member lower house of Parliament.
After the surprising turn of events on Sunday, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took a suo motu cognizance of the current political situation and said that all orders and actions initiated by the prime minister and the president regarding the dissolution of the National Assembly will be subject to the court's order.
A three-member bench held the initial hearing despite the weekend and issued notices to all the respondents, including President Alvi and Deputy Speaker of the NA Suri.
The Supreme Court ordered all parties not to take any "unconstitutional" measures and adjourned the hearing until Monday.
Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the ruling given in the National Assembly by the deputy speaker for the dismissal of the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Khan was final and could not be challenged in any court of law.
Pakistan Oppn passes 'no-trust vote' against PM Khan in own session' of Parliament
Meanwhile, in a dramatic move, Pakistan's Opposition approved a 'no-confidence motion' against Prime Minister Imran Khan in its own session of Parliament after it was dissolved by President Arif Alvi, and declared that the no-trust motion was "successful" with nearly 200 votes.
The result of the vote was announced by Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader and former speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who presided over the sitting on Sunday as a member of the panel of chairpersons that had been announced by Speaker Asad Qaiser at the start of the National Assembly session on March 25, the Dawn newspaper reported on Monday.
The Opposition declared the proceedings legal and valid although it was conducted without the secretariat staff support and even without the sound system, it said.
They declared the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Khan successful with 197 votes.
(With inputs from agencies)