ISLAMABAD: Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the minister of defense, stated on Wednesday that the Parliament was not usurping the Supreme Court’s authority but rather that it had been acting in accordance with its constitutional authority.
The defence minister stated during the discussion of the judicial reform legislative proposal that a bill similar to the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 was drafted 15 years prior but was rejected by a bench of the top court. The Supreme Court judges are included in the Bill, according to Khawaja Asif, but no additional lawmakers are being added. We are dividing the authority of one person among three judges, which requires understanding, he continued.
The Minister noted that the Parliament was making this process transparent and taking the initiative empowered by the constitution. “We are the architect of the constitution and all other institutions are extensions of it.”
Khawaja Asif said the law relating to the disqualification of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani should be also reviewed. He said that ex-Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was disqualified while words of the Sicilian mafia were used without any right to appeal.
He underlined that the constitution gave us the right to amend laws and the public mandate gave us this power, adding, this House had the mandate of the people who are the center of power.
The Minister emphasized that the tone of the House should not be apologetic as all requirements were fulfilled for this legislation. “Our actions are being scrutinized by the judiciary. They had the right to do so but cannot enact legislation,” he maintained.
The Minister said the Parliament was not trespassing on any other’s rights, adding, “We are giving the right to appeal. The institution of the judiciary should have some democracy in it. The law is nourishing now after this process.”
