Does parliament need judges’ say to legislate, asks PM

ISLAMABAD: Legislators in the National Assembly on Monday saw an even-tempered Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in a defiant mood, asking if parliament was bound to consult the judiciary about legislation.

The government’s decisions and policies are undermined by the judiciary,” he said. Abbasi appeared in the National Assembly after skipping four consecutive sessions. The opposition supported the premier’s viewpoint with reservations.

The premier first addressed a closed-door meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Parliamentary Party held in the committee room of Parliament House and later he spoke extempore in the National Assembly.

The prime minister announced to fight for parliament’s right to legislate and took an exception to the degrading remarks of judges about the political leaders. He said the best course for the administration was not to do anything and sit idle.

“Nobody would question your conduct but it’s not fair. The House should debate whether it has the right to legislate and whether the government has powers to take decisions.” His tone and tenor clearly indicated the PML-N’s future strategy of not letting any obnoxious remarks about the political leadership go unnoticed and stall encroachment from the other civilian institutions on the authority of parliament and the administration.

He also questioned the removal of appointments by the judiciary ordered by the government and ridiculing the government officials. The opposition was of the unanimous view that the government should have raised the issue much earlier but was supportive of the concept.

Addressing the National Assembly, Prime Minister Abbasi said the limits of every institution had been defined in the Constitution and none must cross them. He reminded Speaker Ayaz Sadiq that they had taken the oath under the Constitution twice to adhere to it.

“Any confrontation among the institutions will not serve the country but harm its interests,” he warned. The premier said according to news reports elected representatives were being dubbedthieves, dacoits and mafia in courts.

“I pray that these reports may be wrong. The government functionaries are summoned in courts and insulted, that is why they are reluctant to take any initiative. “Governments come and go, but they have to decide about parliament’s authority to legislate and making appointments by the administration. The officers are humiliated by the judges and removed.

"If a wrong decision comes across, it should not be made a source of personal humiliation,” he added. Abbasi reminded that parliament’s decisions should be accepted in letter and spirit like the court verdicts were acknowledged.

“We are bound to make it certain that supremacy of parliament is maintained and its esteem should be safeguarded by everyone.” Abbasi said rejection of government’s decisions was not a good tradition adding that all the institutions should work within their respective domains.

He said it was not acceptable to term the elected representative thieves, dacoits and robbers. “Legislation is the prerogative of parliament and the attitude of judges should now be discussed on the floor of the house,” he said.

Talking about horse-trading in the upcoming Senate polls, he said some people were trying to transact horse-trading in the Senate elections. “We will bring the truth before the masses. Democracy is going to complete its 10 uninterrupted years.”

He asked the members to table privilege motions and adjournment motions about the objectionable remarks of judges. He said the policy of tolerance by the PML-N was being misconstrued and misread, as some people were taking undue advantage of it.

The judges’ ‘objectionable’ stance would be discussed at all forums, including both houses of parliament. The PML-N members who had turned up in large number endorsed Abbasi’s announcements. Earlier in the PML-N parliamentary party meeting, the legislators reposed full confidence in the leadership of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as their president.