Islamabad: National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf said that he would write letter to Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial after legislators stressed Parliament’s supremacy.

Lawmakers unanimously said that authority of Parliament should not be undermined by any individual or entity and stressed that legislative should exercise its power of enacting crucial legislation. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that parliamentary committee would discuss terms of talks between ruling alliance and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf regarding holding elections across country on same day. But lawmakers of ruling alliance in their fiery speeches rejected to hold talks with opposition under duress and expressed confidence in leadership of PM Shehbaz. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari termed, “Shocking” Supreme Court’s latest verdict, in which it directed State Bank of Pakistan to issue funds for polls in Punjab and KP and later take approval from Parliament. “Parliament is being insulted because of few people’s stubbornness. If judiciary has any misunderstanding regarding Constitution, PPP and parliamentary committee are present to help it understand.” He questioned how SC could order that Parliament be ignored. “Despite judges’ ‘thoughts’, we respect them,” he stressed.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar came down hard on PTI Chairman Imran Khan and said two assemblies were dissolved to spread “Anarchy” in country. He said that Election Commission of Pakistan’s request for release of funds was sent to Finance Ministry, but his Ministry cannot allow issuance of funds without following “Procedures”. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said lower house of Parliament has already passed resolutions for not providing funds to Election Commission for polls. “When matter was taken up before Cabinet, house had already issued its decision,” he said, stressing that it is Parliament’s prerogative on issuance of funds. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Shahida Akhtar Ali while asked how Parliament could allow release of Rs 21 billion funds to ECP.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 27 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.