Article 63(A) cannot be understood in isolation.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared on Tuesday that dissident members of parliament (MPs) cannot vote against their parliamentary party’s directions, which is a significant milestone.

In its decision on the presidential request for an interpretation of Clause 63(A) of the Constitution, the court stated that the article in question cannot be understood in isolation.

Today, the Supreme Court concluded the hearing of a reference filed by President Arif Alvi on March 21. Hearings have been ongoing for 58 days since the petition was filed. The court had reserved a decision on the hearing earlier today.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Munib Akhtar all agreed that the votes of dissident members should not be counted, however Justice Jamal Mandokhail and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel disagreed.

The highest court’s majority judgement declared the votes of the defected legislators will not be counted in response to the first and second questions addressed in the reference.

The highest court dismissed the PTI’s appeal in response to the third question about members’ disqualification, preventing the legislators from being permanently expelled from Parliament.

The three judges decided it was the correct moment for Parliament to legislate on lifetime disqualification in their opinion on the fourth question.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial stated during yesterday’s hearing that the case would be concluded on Tuesday.

While rejecting Attorney-General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf and the PML-plea N’s for an extension, the top judge said, “The court wishes to make a decision on the issue fast.”

Despite CJP Bandial’s denial of a further extension, PML-N counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan submitted a written request for more time to deliver arguments during today’s hearing.