ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court’s verdict will strengthen the democratic system in Pakistan and act as a foundation for supremacy of the Constitution, said a number of religio-political leaders.

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq called for the formation of a caretaker government to hold fresh elections in the country.

He expressed the hope that the Supreme Court’s decision would permanently bury the doctrine of necessity.

“The Constitution provides guarantee to the sovereignty and unity of Pakistan and it must be fully protected,” Mr Haq said, adding political parties should sit together for electoral reforms, rejecting the PTI’s unilateral reforms.

Similarly, Islami Tehreek led by Allama Sajid Naqvi, which is an ally of the PDM consisting of the JUI-F and the PPP, hailed the apex court ruling and expressed confidence in the political developments set to take place inside parliament on Saturday.

Islami Tehreek Pakistan Secretary General Allama Dr Shabbir Hassan Maisami welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court rejecting the ruling of the deputy speaker that had led to the dissolution of the National Assembly.

Allama Maisami said the step of the PTI government had placed the country in a state of instability and even posed a serious threat to the democratic and economic system.

“All hopes for a just solution to the crisis were on the Supreme Court and the ruling has restored the confidence of the people in the apex court after its landmark judgment,” he said.

He said political parties on both sides in the National Assembly should take national interest into account and show democratic maturity by resolving issues inside the parliament.

Meanwhile, the patron of Supreme Shia Ulema Board and leader of Tehreek Nifaz Fiqh-i-Jaferia Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi also welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court.

He said the ruling of the deputy speaker of the National Assembly was illegal and the court verdict was in the interest of the democratic system.

In a statement, Agha Moosavi said the verdict had proved that it was not a victory or defeat of anyone but a victory of the Constitution and democracy.

He said all parties should abide by the court’s decision in the larger interest of the nation.

Earlier, Majlis-i-Shoora of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) said violation of the Constitution was nothing short of a crime. In a statement, the TLP said the dissolution of the National Assembly based on the ruling of the speaker was a dangerous trend for national politics as it would have also paved the way for appointment of the prime minister or the president in future. He said the move was to abolish the sanctity of the Constitution by Imran Khan and the TLP would always resist such a move.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2022