ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that the PML-N-led governments in Punjab and even the Center stand dissolved after the Supreme Court’s verdict on legal status of defecting lawmakers’ votes.
Speaking to press after the Supreme Court, in its decision on a presidential reference seeking interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution, ruled that the votes of defecting lawmakers (of a political party) cannot be counted.
The verdict by the larger bench of the Supreme Court was a 3-2 split decision, with a majority of the judges not allowing lawmakers to vote against party line in four instances outlined under Article 63-A.
Read more: Presidential reference: SC says dissident lawmakers cannot cast vote
These four instances are the election of prime minister and chief minister; a vote of confidence or no-confidence; a Constitution amendment bill; and a money bill.
The decision was made with a majority of 3-2, Justice Jamal Mandokhel and Justice Nazeer Alam dissented from the decision. The Chief Justice said that changing loyalties in the parliament damages the integrity of democracy.
