Is PTI ready if it orders NA speaker to approve resignations within four days: SC
ISLAMABAD, Dec 14 (SABAH): Supreme Court of Pakistan asked if its orders to approve resignations within four days then will the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf be ready for it.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali shah conducted hearing on former prime minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan’s petition against the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) amendments on Wednesday.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah asked whether PTI leaders were still members of the National Assembly or not. Imran Khan’s counsel Khawaja Haris Ahmad argued that all the members of the PTI had already resigned and further said that by-polls were conducted where PTI remained to be successful. He added the speaker was not accepting their resignations according to the political strategy.
To this, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah further remarked it was right of the PTI to resign from the assembly or not, and continued that no constituency as well as assembly could be left vacant in the absence of a candidate. He further argued the PTI members were drawing salaries but they were not attending assembly. Islamabad High Court had ordered PTI members to appear before the speaker.
To this Khawaja Haris argued the members whose resignations were accepted, also did not appear before the speaker as he only accepted some of the resignations incidentally.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked why the speaker did not simultaneously approve resignations, saying the member who would have any issue to the speaker’s decision he would object to it.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah asked the lawyer if it ordered to approve resignations within four days then will the PTI be ready for it.
To this, Khawaja Haris said they were ready for this if the court issued orders in this regard. He further argued the PTI was demanding to hold elections, saying the present government took over in the result of corruption and breaking the confidence of the public. For validating his point, he further said Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) commanded to obey the ruler until and unless he spreads sins.
To this Justice Umar Ata Bandial remarked “‘enjoin the good and forbid the wrong’ was a basic rule of Islam and continued the wrong could be forbidden when you are present there; however, attending or remaining absent from assembly was political decision of the PTI.” He further said the institutions need to be made further dynamic and continued that Parliament was a fundamental institution. If the big political party would be out of the assembly then how could it be made dynamic, he questioned.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah said the public send their candidates in assembly while showing confidence in them and remarked it (assembly) could only be left if the member becomes physically unable to come whereas the members should take up their voice while being in the assembly.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked had the NAB amendments got debated upon in the Senate. To this Khawaja Haris said the amendments were approved from the Senate without holding any debate.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan further said that Hazrat Abu Bakar (RA) had said, “Stand with me if I follow the law. If there is no debate on the law in the House then there is no solution left except that of presenting resignations.” Further hearing of the case was adjourned till 9th January.