ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Monday warned political leaders against “dragging” judges into politics, while hearing a case in which the Pakistan government has asked the Supreme Court to advise if it could seek lifelong disqualification of dissidents from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ruling party ahead of a no-confidence vote.

As parliament takes up, today, Monday, the motion filed on March 8 by opposition parties, Pakistan faces constitutional and administrative crises that threaten political turmoil.

A five-member large bench of the apex court — headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Aijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel — resumed hearing Monday of a case seeking interpretation of Article 63-A of the constitution, which deals with defecting lawmakers.

“We cannot restrict political parties from making political statements but political leaders should refrain from dragging judges into politics,” Bandial said, adding that politicians should avoid influencing courts through political statements.

The opposition seeks to oust the prime minister through a no-trust vote because it blames him for poor governance and mismanaging the economy.

Pakistan’s law on floor-crossing provides that MPs who defect could lose their seats if they then vote against their party, but Khan’s government aims to find out whether that also applies before they cast their votes.

Several of Khan’s lawmakers have withdrawn their support, stoking more uncertainty over whether the former cricket star can hang on to power, following warnings from his coalition partners that they too could join the opposition.

The loss of dissident lawmakers has left Khan with over dozen seats less than the minimum of 172 needed for a majority.

The opposition jointly commands 163 seats in the lower house, but could build a majority if most of the defectors effectively join its ranks via the no-confidence vote.

Khan has appealed to the dissidents to return to the party, promising forgiveness.