ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi once again returned Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 unsinged. He remarked that he could not take any action on Bill as Bill and National Assembly’s prerogative on legislation on it had been debated upon in apex court.

“It is not suitable to take any further action in respect for court,” he added. On April 10, joint session of Parliament had once again passed Bill amid opposition’s uproar after President refused to sign it. Meanwhile, an eight-member bench of top court stopped implementation of Bill. Bill, tabled by Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, was sent to President Dr Arif Alvi again for assent as he had, earlier, returned Bill unsigned to Parliament. President Alvi returned Bill for reconsideration to Parliament, stating that legislation “prima-facie travels beyond competence of Parliament and can be assailed as a colourable legislation”.

He did this as per provisions of Article 75 of Constitution days after it was sent to him for approval after it had sailed through National Assembly and Senate amid standoff between government and SC over snap elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 20 2023

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