*Islamabad: The SC has announced its verdict on the interpretation ofArticle 63 (A), announcing that defective votes will not be counted in theparliament.*
The Supreme Court of Paksitan has announced its verdict over thepresidential reference on the interpretation of Article 63(A).
The decision was made with a majority of 3-2, Justice Jamal Mandokhel andJustice Nazeer Alam dissented from the decision. The Chief Justice saidthat changing loyalties in the parliament damages the integrity ofdemocracy.
The decision read that the decision about the life-long disqualification ofdefecting members is to be made by the parliament.
A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprisingJustice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel, Justice MunibAkhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, had completed proceedings of thecase earlier today.
The hearing of the case commenced on March 21 under a two-member bench,which was later increased to a larger bench by CJP Bandial.
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Article 63(A) cannot be interpreted alone, other articles also need to bekept in context, said the Cheif Justice.
The decision has caused serious questions over the legitimacy of the Punjabgovernment and CM Humza Shehbaz, as he was elected with the help ofdefecting PTI members’ votes.
However, the decision regarding the defection of PTI members in the PunjabAssembly will be announced by the Election Commission of Paksitan tomorrow.
