ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Supreme Court said on Monday it would set up a ‘larger bench’ to hear a presidential reference seeking the interpretation of Article 63-A, which sets down rules for the disqualification of lawmakers in the case of defection and violation of party policy.
The court’s decision follows attorney general Khalid Javed Khan submitting a reference on behalf of President Arif Alvi, after as many as 13 lawmakers from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party indicated they could vote against him in a no confidence motion set to be voted on later this month. The PTI now wants those legislators punished and has sought the court’s opinion on a constitutional article about defections.
In response, a two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Munib Akhtar, decided to constitute a larger bench to hear the reference.
The reference, a copy of which is available with Arab news, calls defections from a political party a “morally reprehensible and destructive act which shakes the confidence of the public in the democratic process.”
Through the reference, the government has requested the court to give its opinion on whether a defector should be disqualified for life from electoral activity or public office and if his or her vote, after defecting, should be counted in a parliamentary motion.
During the hearing, the attorney general assured the court no lawmaker would be stopped from showing up in parliament and casting his or her vote on the no-confidence motion.
The chief justice urged the parliamentary parties to resolve their political differences in parliament, vowing that the apex court would not interfere in the proceedings of the lower house.
“Political parties should show their strength in parliament through constitutional and legal ways,” the chief justice remarked.
Pakistan’s key opposition parties launched a formal no-confidence vote against PM Khan earlier this month. Asad Qaiser, speaker of the National Assembly, convened a special session for this Friday to deliberate whether Khan still has majority support in the house.
Under the constitution, the parliament has three days to deliberate after which the lawmakers will vote, perhaps as early as Monday.
Pakistan top court constitutes ‘larger bench’ to decide presidential reference against defecting lawmakers
https://arab.news/yfqh4
Pakistan top court constitutes ‘larger bench’ to decide presidential reference against defecting lawmakers
- Up to 13 lawmakers from ruling party have indicated they could vote against PM in no confidence motion later this month
- PTI wants defectors punished, has filed presidential reference seeking new interpretation of constitutional article on defections
Saudi Arabia leads Pakistan’s foreign remittances for January as inflows surge by 15.4%
- Pakistan received $3.5 billion in remittances in January, with Saudi Arabia leading inflows with $739.6 million
- Foreign remittances are crucial in increasing Pakistan’s foreign reserves, stabilizing cash-strapped nation’s currency
KARACHI: Pakistan received $3.5 billion in foreign remittances in January 2026, the central bank said on Tuesday, with Saudi Arabia once again leading the inflows that Islamabad considers crucial to ensure economic stability.
Foreign remittances are key for cash-strapped Pakistan as they increase foreign reserves, cushion the country’s current account and stabilize the national currency.
As per data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), foreign remittances increased 15.4% on a year-on-year basis in January 2026.
“Workers’ remittances recorded an inflow of $3.5 billion during January 2026,” the SBP said in a statement.
It added that cumulatively, with an inflow of $23.2 billion remittances increased by 11.3% during the July-January period of the current fiscal year. Last year, Pakistan reported receiving $20.9 billion during the same period.
Saudi Arabia remained the top source of foreign remittances in January with inflows recorded at $739.6 million, followed by the UAE with $694.2 million. The UK reported the third-highest inflows at $572.1 million while remittances from the USA totaled $294.7 million in January.
According to SBP data, remittances reached a record $38.3 billion in fiscal year 2024-25, up from about $30.3 billion the year before, reflecting strong labor migration to Gulf countries and improved formal banking channels.
Millions of Pakistanis work abroad in Gulf countries, Europe and USA, sending money to their families in Pakistan to support them financially. Islamabad has attempted to take advantage of this development in recent years, encouraging the use of formal channels and cracking down on illegal money transfer systems such as hawala and hundi.
