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Clipping wings of judiciary
Just yesterday federal cabinet of ministers presided over by Raja
Pervez Ashraf, Prime Minister has passed two very important decisions
relating to contempt of court and dual nationality which eventually
will be passed through the parliament resulting in curtailing powers
of higher courts in particular.
As a matter of fact contempt of court is an inherent power of superior
courts and this practice is exercised all over the countries but now
government is drifting away to save its own top notches. Former PM
Gillani has gone back to pavilion because of contempt of court slapped
by Supreme Court and the incumbent PM is likely to fall in the same
ditch hence government has decided to get a law passed by the
parliament so that the top brass like President, Prime Minister,
Minister, Governor and Chief Minister etc be exempted and cannot be
charged on contempt of court.
The other burning issue is that of dual nationality and SC has already
slapped few parliamentarians who have dual nationality and therefore
their membership has already been cancelled. Rehman Malik, former
Interior Minister and now Adviser to PM on Security are the most
prominent one who had to face the axe of the Supreme Court as he could
not prove that his British nationality has been cancelled. Quite
possibly few more could also taste dust in coming days and therefore
the government could not digest it anymore and hence a law being
promulgated through the parliament whereby people holding two
nationalities will be allowed to hold any public office and become member
of an assembly in the country.
An urgent and unusual session of National Assembly has been called for
tomorrow on Friday whereas Senate is scheduled to meet two days later
on Monday and in these manner new laws pertaining to contempt of court
and dual nationality will be passed which indirectly will put a limit
on the powers of our judiciary. I oppose both the moves but what about you?
Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
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