Pakistan awaits Supreme Court verdict on Imran Khan's fate

The verdict will now be announced at 7.30 pm (8 pm India time).

In anticipation of the verdict, security has been heightened at the apex court premises with television footage showing riot police deployed outside the court, Dawn reported.

A five-member bench headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail heard the case.

Earlier, during the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said it was clear that the April 3 ruling of National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, dismissed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, was erroneous.

"The real question at hand is what happens next," he said, adding that now the PML-N counsel and the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Jawed Khan would guide the court on how to proceed.

"We have to look at national interest," he said.

Right before the bench reserved the verdict, opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif was given the rostrum.

At that point, CJP Bandial referred to the situation in Sri Lanka and said that the country didn't even have money for electricity and other basic facilities.

"Today, the value of rupee against the dollar has reached Rs. 190 (in Pakistan). We need a strong government. This will be a very difficult task for the opposition leader," Justice Bandial said.

Shehbaz said he hoped that when the deputy speaker's ruling was suspended, the no-confidence motion would be revived, adding that if the Speaker's ruling is declared nullified, the dissolution of the assembly ends automatically.

"I have one request ... Restore the National Assembly," Shehbaz said. "In our history, the law has been broken several times. This situation was created because blunders (of the past) weren't identified and rectified. For the sake of God and Pakistan, the court should restore the parliament," he requested.

"Let us vote for the no-confidence motion." Shehbaz also presented the "Charter of Economics" in court. He said that in 2018, dollar was valued at Rs125. "Today, it has reached Rs190."

He added that the parliament should be allowed to do its work and the members are permitted to take their decisions.

Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhe observed that the opposition wanted to conduct elections from day one, inquiring what the issue was now.

"The problem concerns breaking of the Constitution," Shehbaz pointed out. To this, Justice Mandokhe replied: "We will repair the Constitution."

Here, PML-N lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan said that the prime minister had announced he would give a surprise. "Such things shouldn't be said." To this, the CJP Bandial replied: "We have clarified our decision on surprise." The chief justice also noted that the opposition had always demanded new elections. "Why aren't you agreeing today?"

At this, Shehbaz said that the joint opposition would, together, make electoral amendments to ensure transparent elections. "The common man is miserable. We want to work for them and provide them relief."

The AGP said that everyone wanted a premier elected by the people, not the assembly. "Would those who overthrew Imran Khan spare Shehbaz Sharif?" he asked.

AGP Khan went on to say that if the opposition's election demand was being fulfilled, they should let that happen. "