Dissolution of the Pakistani Parliament and its implications for human rights in the country

Dissolution of the Pakistani Parliament and its implications for human rights in the country
Photo by Saiyna Bashir via Reuters

07.03.2022

Fatima Orujova

Pakistan and Human Rights Researcher

 

  The move to dissolve the Pakistani Parliament by the Prime Minister, Imran Khan on April 3 has led to the outrage of the international community, including journalists, human rights activists, and civil society organisations (Khalid, et al., 2022; Gossman, 2022). This step has allowed Imran Khan not to face a no-confidence and to stay longer in power since the members of the National Assembly now cannot vote for or against a motion of no-confidence (Gossman, 2022). Furthermore, the deputy speaker of the Parliament has proclaimed that the no-confidence motion is a foreign conspiracy (Asrar & Zaman, 2022).

 

  Human Rights Watch (HRW) has stated that Pakistani authorities’ act of dissolving the Parliament violates Pakistani citizens’ rights to choose their government, which is protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a multilateral treaty on civil and political rights signed in 1966 (Gossman, 2022). According to HRW, the dissolution of the National Assembly also undermines core democratic principles and is one of the “hallmarks of dictatorship, which Pakistanis have previously endured and should not have to endure again” (Gossman, 2022).

  Moreover, today, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared that the steps by Pakistani authorities to dissolve the Parliament and to call for early elections are unlawful (Asrar & Zaman, 2022). The Court also ruled that the members of the Parliament have to reassemble and hold a no-confidence vote (Asrar & Zaman, 2022).

 

Sources and further reading:

 

Asrar, N. & Zaman, Q. (2022, April 7). Pakistan latest updates: Court rules Khan’s move unconstitutional. Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 7, 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/7/pakistan-political-crisis-live-news-supreme-court-likely-to-rule



Gossman, P. (2022, April 5). ‘Constitutional Coup’ Threatened in Pakistan Imran Khan Dissolves Parliament to Remain in Office. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/05/constitutional-coup-threatened-pakistan

 

Khalid, S., Mohamed, H. and Siddiqui, U. (2022, April 3). Pakistan constitution crisis updates: Parliament dissolved. Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 7, 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/3/pakistan-political-crisis-live-news-no-confidence-vote-blocked