ISLAMABAD: The government has decided not to compromise on parliament’s power to legislate “under any circumstances” and therefore will not go into appeal against the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s ruling, suspending the Contempt of Court Act, 2012. According to top government sources, a new law will now be approved by parliament.
Top law experts in official quarters have advised the government not to surrender, under any circumstances, the right of parliament to frame the laws. Sources have revealed that constitutional and law experts had briefed the top leadership of the country about the SC ruling and told the president and prime minister that the SC had crossed its limits by describing the law as ill-intentioned.
Meanwhile, the coalition parties held a meeting at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Friday and resolved that the right of parliament to legislate would be upheld at all costs.
The meeting was held under President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and discussed the situation after the Supreme Court’s verdict striking down the Contempt of Court Act, 2012.
The meeting reiterated unequivocally that the power to legislate under the Constitution belonged to elected representatives alone.
Presidential Spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said the meeting observed that there was an even greater need now to remain united and firm. “It resolved to remain united and firm, and face the emerging challenges with unity, force and conviction,” he added.
He said Prime Minister Raja also gave a detailed overview to the meeting on the current power situation and said the energy situation was steadily improving and expressed the hope that the crisis would end soon.
He also said that President Zardari said the cabinet decision’s about zero duty on the import of solar panels should be implemented without delay to encourage the growth of solar power and reduce pressure on the power sector. He said small dams were being built in various parts of the country.
Kaira informed the meeting that the damage caused to high voltage power pylons in Muzaffargarh had been resolved and power supply had been restored. The meeting also decided that special measures would be taken to address the problems of traders and businessmen in Karachi.
The meeting was attended among others by Senator Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel, Senator Afrasiab Khattak, Dr Farooq Sattar, Senator Babar Khan Ghouri, Senator Abbas Khan Afridi, Munir Khan Orakzai and Hameedullah Jan Afridi. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Farhatullah Babar were also present.