Rabbani questions PAC’s authority

Senator raises objections against committees power to investigate SC judge's wealth

ISLAMABAD:

Former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) raised objection on Monday to the decision of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to investigate the wealth of a Supreme Court judge.

In a statement, the PPP senator said that PAC would be out of its jurisdiction if it inquired into an individual judge’s wealth. He added that the committee could take up other matters related to finances of the institution of the Supreme Court.

“Parliament ought not to do what the law or the Constitution, 1973, does not permit it to do. It must guard strongly that it has primacy over institutions functioning under the Constitution, 1973, and it’s right of legislation and control over the purse strings,” je said.

He emphasised that parliament must stand up to defend its territory and guard its constitutional rights while all institutions functioning under the Constitution must adhere to the concept of trichotomy of power.