Islamabad (Web Desk): National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Wednesday that he would write a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, conveying to him the “sentiments and thoughts” of members of the House about Supreme Court (SC) orders on elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The lawmakers unanimously said that the authority of parliament should not be undermined by any individual or entity and stressed that the legislative should exercise its power of enacting crucial legislation.
Taking the floor, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that it is the sole prerogative of the NA to take a final decision in releasing the amount from the Federal Consolidated Funds as per spirit of the Constitution. He said the House has already rejected this matter twice.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the Lower House has categorically stopped the release of any amount in this regard. He said the State Bank of Pakistan cannot disburse any amount without the approval of the National Assembly.
Speaking on the floor of the House, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said elections should be held on the expiry of the constitutional time limit of all the assemblies simultaneously on a single day. Bilawal said all the political parties, except one party, are unanimous on this demand. He said political dialogue should be undertaken from the forum of the parliament and not from the courtrooms. He said a dialogue amongst the political parties will not only save the democracy and the federation, but also protect the honour and dignity of institutions.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari further said PPP strongly believes in the Constitution and it cannot ignore the parliament. He added that the Parliament is the custodian of the national purse and makers of laws. He said it is parliament's right to decide as to where and how national wealth will be spent. He said we are bound to comply with the directions of the Parliament instead of any other institution.
