Election next aim, first is to uphold the Constitution: Maulana Fazl

ISLAMABAD: The Opposition can move toward elections once the Constitution has been upheld in the country, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Fazlur Rehman said Monday. 

In his press conference today, a charged Fazl said in 1988, Balochistan's assembly was dissolved but the court restored it. "The court should take action against the recent violation of the Constitution and not delay it."

The PDM chief lashed out at the deputy speaker for not taking the Opposition's input while making the decision and censured the president for obeying the prime minister's directives without asking any questions.

"The entire country has been pushed into a crisis [...] our only demand is that the deputy speaker's ruling is declared illegal," Fazl said, terming Suri's decision as "controversial and unconstitutional".

The PDM chief said the deputy speaker issued a "controversial" decision based on a "controversial letter" as he warned the PTI and the prime minister that the Opposition would "not back down".

"All of these unconstitutional moves are being made to come into power again — illegally," the PDM chief said, adding that the prime minister has sought a safe exit by dissolving the assemblies.

Fazl said the Opposition wants the courts to uphold the law and declare the deputy speaker's decision illegal.

Fazl's comments came after Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday, saying it was backed by "foreign powers".

Following this, the prime minister was quick to address the nation and congratulate them for "their success" as he asked Pakistanis to gear up for the elections.

The storm had not settled yet but the prime minister went ahead and advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the National Assembly, who within a short time, followed suit and dissolved it. The matter is in the Supreme Court.