Opp to back legislation in national interest

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah Monday said Parliament had the right to legislate but person-specific legislation was detrimental to this supreme institution.

Speaking in the National Assembly after Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan’s jealous defence of Parliament’s right to legislate without taking any other institution on board, Khursheed said everyone should accept Parliament’s decisions.

“The PPP always talked of Parliament’s supremacy. If the legislation is in national interest, then we’re ready to swear allegiance to the ruling govt in this regard,” he said. He said any legislation by Parliament could be interpreted but not rejected.

The opposition leader said there were no two opinions that Parliament had the right to legislate but it were the elected representatives who themselves degraded and weakened this sacred institution.

He said before seeking the opposition’s cooperation it should be decided as to who’d compromised on the supremacy and sanctity of Parliament. “Lessons should be learnt from the past. There’s was a time when the government would dictate the judiciary,” Khursheed said.

He agreed with the prime minister that all the state institutions should work within their limits defined by the Constitution and avoid interfering into each other’s jurisdictions. Khursheed observed that Parliament had the right to legislate but it was the PML-N government that had been bulldozing various bills.

“I far as I can remember, we used to consult the opposition on every legislation during our tenure,” he said. He said the opposition was ready to cooperate with the government on legislation which was not person-specific.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Ahsan Iqbal said every institution should endeavour to improve its working instead of keeping an eye on the performance of others. He was of the view that it was important that all the institutions should work in perfect harmony.

“The institutions should review their attitude, as confrontation will only serve the interests of enemies of the country,” he said. Ahsan said there was no holy cow in the country and all institutions should respect each other.

He also called for judicial reforms saying that stay orders from courts were hindering the smooth working of government and its departments. PTI parliamentarian Shafqat Mahmood said the PML-N leaders were raising a hue and cry only to save their leaders.

He said the PML-N leaders were shedding crocodile tears for a specific purpose which was to save just one person. He said the prime minister was talking about supremacy of the Constitution but the government should know that no legislation could be done which was against the spirit of the Constitution.

As the fire-brand PML-N member Mian Abdul Mannan was given the floor to respond to the opposition members’ views, a PTI member pointed out lack of quorum leading to adjournment of proceedings. The two sides also exchanged harsh words without use of mikes while counting of members was in progress.