ISLAMABAD: Pakistani legislators reposed their “full confidence” in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership on Thursday, with the premier securing 180 votes from members of the National Assembly amid heightened tensions between the country’s parliament and judiciary. 

The summary for the vote of confidence was passed by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari when the session began. 

“The National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan reposes its full confidence in the Leadership of Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, as the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” the summary read.

The development takes place amid heightened tensions between Pakistan’s judiciary and parliament over the issue of elections in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. While the Supreme Court has been irked by the government’s decision to delay polls in the two provinces, PM Sharif has repeatedly said elections would be held across Pakistan on the same date. 

The controversy was triggered when former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its ally dissolved its governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab to pressurize Sharif to announce early elections. While Pakistan has historically held voting for provincial and National Assembly elections on the same date, the constitution says elections should be held in 90 days after the dissolution of a provincial assembly before its term expires. 

After much political wrangling, the apex court issued a landmark ruling last month, directing the government to issue funds to Pakistan’s election regulator to hold polls in Punjab on May 14. The government has so far not issued the funds, a move that has escalated its tensions with the judiciary. In recent hearings, the Supreme Court has asked political stakeholders to resolve the political stalemate in the country and form consensus on the date for elections. 

“Parliament’s respect and its constitutional right cannot be snatched by any power,” PM Sharif said, referring to the Supreme Court. “The constitutional status of the parliament is being challenged, Mr. Speaker,” he added. 

The prime minister praised his government, saying that due to its efforts, Russia would soon provide oil at cheaper rates to Pakistan. He blamed former prime minister Khan for Pakistan’s economic ills, saying that a “sham” election in 2018 ensured the country was deprived of progress and development. 

He warned the judiciary against limiting the government’s authority. 

“This cannot happen that the parliament makes a law but before it could be implemented, the judiciary imposes a stay order on it,” Sharif said. “Parliament has the right to make laws or amend them.”

Sharif said the judiciary does not have the right to rewrite the law, adding that it is against the provisions of Pakistan’s constitution. 

“And if the parliament protests, it is being threatened with contempt of court,” Sharif said. “This means that your prime minister has lost the majority, but the house has given its decision today,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court resumed hearing an important case on the delay in elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. During the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial urged the government and Khan’s PTI to resolve their political differences over the election issue and reach an amicable solution.