SC dismisses petition seeking dismissal of PM's special assistants and advisers.

ISLAMABAD -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday dismissed the petition that sought dismissal of Prime Minister's special assistants and advisers.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case as Justice Munib Akhtar recused himself.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed said in his remarks that the Rules of Business allow individuals with dual citizenships to serve as the premier's aides.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that the apex court has already defined rules regarding special assistants in Zulfi Bukhari's case, allowing dual citizens to serve as aides because their loyalty cannot be doubted.

Lawyer Ikram Chaudhry had moved the apex court against the appointments of special assistants and advisers by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Ikram Chaudhry said the current petition did not concern dual nationalities. "The government has an army of advisers and special assistants."

Chief justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed noted that the Constitution allows the premier to appoint special assistants and advisers for his assistance. He observed that a similar petition was filed before the IHC and the high court had already decided on it.

Justice Ahmed said the bench will explain why this petition was being dismissed in the detailed judgment.

The judgment noted that Article 93 of the Constitution allows the prime minister to appoint up to five advisors and conferring of a federal minister status on an advisor is "only for the purpose of perks and privileges" and "does not make the advisor a federal minister as such".

It further ruled that the advisor to the premier is not a member of the cabinet, cannot participate in the proceedings hence can also not be a member or even chair a committee cabinet. "He can address the Parliament but cannot participate in the voting process."

On the matter of special assistants, the judgment stated that the post is not...