Senate passes contempt of court bill
The opposition protested for around two hours during the proceedings and stated that the bill was being passed by ‘bulldozing’ basic Senate procedures. The Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) also boycotted the proceedings in protest.
The bill was pushed through the National Assembly on Monday but still needs to be signed by the president to become law – which will probably be done before July 12, when the court takes up the Swiss letter matter.
The NRO case, ordering the government to write letter to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Ali Zardari, has already cost the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) one prime minister. Yousaf Raza Gilani was disqualified by the Supreme Court for committing contempt of court by not writing the letter.
The bill will ostensibly provide cover for Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf from possible disqualification by the Supreme Court.
During the debate on the bill Senator Aitzaz Ahsan said the government should review the draft of the Contempt of Court Bill as law made in haste could be harmful for the government.
He said the proposed law is giving immunity to the president and the PM but we must not forget that the situation will change when the party will be in sitting in the opposition.
The bill has already been challenged in the Supreme Court for being contradictory to the Constitution.
Earlier taking part in the general debate on the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Ishaq Dar said it is a malafide attempt and amounts to lowering the prestige of the Parliament.
He demanded that it should be withdrawn otherwise the opposition will take appropriate action to ensure that the bill doesn't stay on the statute book even if it becomes an act.
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@elementary: Well said
Parliament is lawmaking institution/authority, It can amend the constitution and frame new laws. It is a powerful institution and supreme in nature.
Supreme court, under the constitution have authority to consider the law if find repugnant to any basic law or constitutional article can give its opinion.
The fact is that gulf between two powerful institution of the state has been widened looks can not be bridged.
What would be outcomes of the existing situation? When I see around as a citizen of the country,think and look at the sky,find thunderous black clouds coming to my homeland,God save us all from the rainy days,because He is alone can provide us complete safety from all the crisis expected in the near future.
I believe Pakistan people are reasonable and well meaning. It has contradictions and I believe will be resolved in time. It is an irony that democracy was not allowed for a long time. Political leadership carries lots of negativity. We easily see it is corrupt face, because it is accountable to us. Can we ask questions to military leadership? Isn’t it the irony of a system that judiciary of Pakistan never questioned a military rule. It always validated them. We in India have corrupt leaders; we’ll devise ways to set them right. It will take time. The role of military is to defend the country. Why did court allow military officers to appear in court over ruling civilian Government? The first job is to keep army under civil rule. If the humanity has to move forward please fight against poverty, illiteracy, gender bias, disease etc. A healthy, educated and well informed society will always take right decisions.
Judicial over activism deprives the people of “the political experience and the moral Issue is marred in what comes first; chicken or egg discussions. To a common mind, legislature framed the constitution and it has the right to amend it. In a parliamentary democracy (not ideal or perfect for Pakistan but accepted by all political parties) court’s interpretation should not be final and should be subject to parliamentary review and 2/3rd approval. Court cannot and should not decide what legislature can or cannot do except basic rights.
The education and stimulus that come from fighting the problem in the ordinary way and correcting their own errors”. If the legislature or executive are not properly performing their functions, it is for the people to correct them by exercising their franchise properly, or by peaceful and lawful public meetings and demonstrations, and/or by public criticism through the media and by other lawful means. The remedy is not in the judiciary taking over these functions, because that would not only be against the separation of powers in the Constitution, but also because the judiciary has neither the expertise nor the resources to perform these functions.
@Mirza: Amending the constitution or bringing in new laws for personal gains cannot be called a democratic action. Let us see by taking the cover of new law, for how long the thieves can protect the stolen wealth of people of Pakistan which they have cleverly parked in Swiss and Spanish Banks..
There is a basic difference between taking an oath under PCO and becoming subservient to a dictator and justify his high treason and taking an oath to do away with the dictatorship with a new dawn of democracy. How come the PCO judges who have taken oath of obedience twice under PCO are still most credible and shamefully clinging to the power with extensions yet the democratically elected govt which put an end to the dictatorship and released the judges is not credible just because they were elected and not paid govt servants?
who more CORUPT ,convicted, under restrictions than AQ khan .pl forget these dreams PPP is working on a master plan to win next election . no judges or generals will decide but the people of Pakistan
For their own comfort they passes law within one day....but for common people they never bother to amend laws
Matter of time. this parliament and government prolly has a few weeks before they are disqualified
Its very good they made such a stupid and ultimate blunder
It is said that when you sell your soul to the devil then small things like right or wrong don't matter.
This parliament and gOvernment is about to be disqualified and dissolved.
Caretaker government led by AQ khan
It's a not if but when
Judiciary is also there by courtsey of NRO .the menace of here today there tpmorow judges disobeying the constitution has to be stopped The judiciary has made a joke of pakistani. State. They must be stoped otherwise they will stand up with another dictator to throttle the democracy.
@ Mr. Mirza....spoken like a true patriot! (ofcourse i m being sarcastic, i am sure your limited knowledge wouldnt understand otherwise). What a shame truly to be a PPP supporter eh...screw this country like ur past leaders have. No biggie, PPP is just changing the constitution to protect its corrput president and ofcourse the prime minister, otherwise they will be "martyred".
@Mirza: Taking oath under PCO of a dictator invalidates judges in your eyes ,yet taking oath under NRO of the same dictator keeps PPP government kosher.Why????
So called "elected "parliament is corrupt and product of an NRO ,they are clearly doing this for their own vested interests.
All bills that impact ruling elite are quickly passed
This is all rubish. How a socity be peaceful where court's or ders not obeyed by govt.?
Great news, kudos to the elected govt. Nobody should be allowed to subvert the elected parliament which is supreme as it writes and amends the constitution. The authors of the book are more powerful than the book itself that can be amended and revised as the need arises and to avoid another takeover by mullah/judiciary/military alliance. As far as the fairness of the bill and performance of the assemblies let the electorate decide in the next elections. If the new assembly does not agree with any law then can amend, change or drop that but not the PCO appointed paid govt servants.
Pakistan needs "General Election" at the earliest. This is the only way forward.
absolute rubbish...