ISLAMABAD: On Friday, the National Assembly unanimously approved a resolution affirming that the parliament’s legislative authority cannot be overridden. The resolution, presented by Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ali Musa Gillani, denounced what it called the Supreme Court’s aggressive attempt to encroach on the parliament’s power.
The resolution expressed concern that during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the 1973 Constitution, one branch of the state blatantly violated the constitution—an undesirable act. The Constitution stipulates that no institution can meddle in the affairs of others.
A day earlier, the apex court’s eight-member larger bench ruled that the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 would not be acted upon in any way until further notice, even if the president assented to it.
The resolution clarified that parliament has the authority to approve or reject budgets, money bills, financial matters, and resource allocation. No other institution can assume, suspend, or cancel this authority, as doing so would violate the constitution’s fundamental principles.
The resolution also expressed concern over the scheduling of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure Bill) for hearing before a controversial eight-member bench, which has not yet been enacted, stating that this adds a dark chapter to the country’s history. It condemns the haste and deviation from the Constitution and legal practices.
The resolution dismissed the bench’s decision as invalid and urged the federal government to examine this breach of the Constitution carefully and take corrective measures as per the law.
The House passes the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill,2023. https://t.co/1gSytMX7oj
— National Assembly of 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) April 14, 2023
Additionally, the National Assembly passed the “Supreme Court Review of Judgments and Orders Bill 2023” to facilitate and strengthen the apex court’s powers to review its judgments and orders. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Shaza Fatima Khawaja introduced the bill.
The bill recommends allowing individuals filing a review petition to hire a lawyer of their choice and submit the review petition within 60 days of the verdict.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that legislation is parliament’s prerogative, which has never interfered with other institutions’ affairs. He said the bill would benefit litigants and strengthen the judiciary.
Minister for Power Khurram Dastagir emphasized that this legislation does not compromise the judiciary’s independence and aims to ensure greater transparency in the apex court’s procedures.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said, “We want to empower the judiciary so people can obtain swift justice,” adding that the parliament is the foundation of democracy.
He also appreciated the Army Chief’s comments during a closed-door security briefing on the National Assembly and the prime minister’s office. Asif emphasized that parliament has never encroached on other institutions’ territories, and they expect the same respect in return.
Lastly, the National Assembly passed the Code of Civil Procedure Amendment Bill 2023 and the National Accountability Amendment Bill 2023, introduced by the law minister.
