Former Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor states that the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the no-confidence motion (NCM) would have been different if the threat letter was presented in court.
Thursday, the SC, in a landmark verdict, retained the opposition’s no-trust motion against PM Khan. The SC ruled that the deputy speaker’s ruling was a violation of the Constitution and nullified the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA).
Moreover, the apex court ordered the reinstatement of the prime minister and the federal cabinet besides restoring the NA proceeding’s scenario before the deputy speaker’s ruling given on April 3.
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Needless to say, the decision caused quite the storm in Pakistan. Legal experts also began weighing in on the decision. Interestingly, the Supreme Court made no remarks on the foreign letter that threatened PM Khan in the Short Order.
Moreover, the SC had asserted that it would only decide on the legality of the deputy speaker’s ruling. Nothing more.
Important to note, the NA Deputy Speaker, dismissed the NCM while invoking Article 5. To clarify, Article 5 stipulates loyalty from every citizen. The government used Article 5 in the context of “external interference in connivance with the native politicians and institutions.”
Regarding this, former AGP Anwar Mansoor said it is unclear why the AGP did not produce the letter in court.
“This [foreign threat letter] should have been produced,” the former AGP said.
Issue of the foreign threat letter
Furthermore, Anwar Mansoor said if he was in the place of the AGP, then he would have brought forth the letter. Moreover, he would have presented the full inquiry of the National Security Committee (NSC).
Important to note, that the authenticity of the alleged letter threatening PM Khan has often come into question. However, PM Khan called a meeting of the NSC to take the top civil and military leadership into confidence over the “threat letter” and the “foreign conspiracy” behind the no-confidence motion against him in the National Assembly.
The NSC expressed grave concern over the matter. It decided to issue a strong demarche to the country in question through proper channels in keeping with diplomatic norms.
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With the NSC on board, the issue of the letter seemed genuine. Therefore, Anwar Mansoor believes it would have been a much stronger case both the letter and details of the NSC meeting were presented.