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HE federal cabinet on Sunday directed the Ministry of Finance to prepare a summary for taking guidance from the Parliament on the matters related to recent verdict of Supreme Court and provision of funds to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa elections. The federal cabinet took the decision in its meeting held with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair here on the weekly holiday (Sunday) to deal with the “current political and constitutional crises” in the country. The cabinet members also held legal consultations and discussed the coalition government’s
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CABINET DECIDES TO SEEK ‘PARLIAMENT’S INPUT’ ON JUDICIAL MATTERS, ELECTIONS FUNDS
strategy in view of the Supreme Court’s April 4 verdict ordering elections in Punjab on May 14. The cabinet also deliberated on tabling the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023 – which aims to curtail the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice and constitute benches on his own – in the joint session of Parliament for approval as President Dr Arif Alvi has returned it for reconsideration without signing it. The two-hour-long meeting of the federal cabinet considered the detailed decisions of four judges and the court order issued with the majority of “four to three.” They also held a detailed consultation on the resolution passed by the National Assembly on April 6, 2023. It is to be recalled that the
Supreme Court last week directed the federal government to provide funds to the tune of Rs21 billion to the ECP by April 10, directing the electoral body to present a report on the issue by April 11 to the court. The verdict also said that the Supreme Court will issue instructions to the authorities concerned in case the funds are not provided. Despite the court’s order, apparently instead of issuing funds, the federal cabinet opted for debating the matter in Parliament before approval and release funds for the provincial elections. Minister for Law Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the meeting about different constitutional and legal matters and responded to the questions of the cabinet members.
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PTI to oppose judicial reforms bill LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to oppose Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023, which aims at curtailing the suo moto powers of office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), in joint session of Parliament. According to PTI sources, the party Chairman Imran Khan has instructed his party Senators to attend the joint session of Parliament. Meanwhile, a meeting of PTI’s parliamentary party has been summoned at 3pm on Monday (today). The meeting will be chaired by Senator Shehzad Wasim. The meeting – which will be attended by members of both house of Parliament – will prepare a strategy regarding the joint session. STAFF REPORT
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