LAHORE: PPP’s former federal law minister Senator Babar Awan has opposed issuance of a presidential ordinance to give blanket indemnity to all acts taken by prime minister from April 26 to June 19 and said “Musharraf era ordinance factory” should be closed down now.
He said he had always been against issuance of ordinances in the presence of parliament, where all constitutional and legal issues should be discussed and decided. He was talking to reporters on Lahore High Court premises. Awan said law to grant life-time perks and privileges to former presidents and former prime ministers was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.
Awan said by not holding local bodies’ elections, the federal and provincial governments are defying the Constitution. He pointed out that assembly had not been given its due right and legislation should be done to enhance its powers.
About implementation of the SC decision in the National Reconciliation Ordinance case, he said former prime minister and law minister had gone home and now the court could summon their successors. About writing a letter to the Swiss courts, he said his written recommendations to prime minister were intact and could be seen if needed.