He said that elected representatives are termed "thieves, robbers and Godfather" in the courts, lamenting that government officials are humiliated too. "Does this House not have the right to legislate," Abbasi questioned. "Or will we have to seek approval to legislate on different issues."
The prime minister said that the constitution defines limits of all the institutions and this must be abided by all, adding that this is a bipartisan issue and all the parties including the opposition should debate on the issue for betterment of the country. He, however, clarified that this debate does not aim to criticize any specific institution. "I am not criticizing any institution or the judiciary; I am only narrating facts," he said.
Talking about the upcoming Senate elections, the prime minister said the political parties which do not have even their MPAs in provincial assemblies have fielded their candidates for the Senate elections. Responding to the points raised by the PM, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah agreed that the Parliament has the sole right to do legislation, but this legislation should be in larger interest of the nation, not be person-specific. "When the Panama leaks issue surfaced, we had mentioned that this matter should be overseen by the Parliament," Shah said. "We ourselves have violated the sanctity of the Parliament, and no one else. We ourselves weakened the Parliament."
The opposition leader said they want to see the Parliament supreme and that all institutions should function within their domains. He said if the institutions interfere in each other's affairs, then this would weaken the country. The opposition leader clearly said the judiciary can interpret the legislation but cannot strike it down.
He extended his support to the treasury benches for a debate on the issue, adding that if the legislation is in larger interest of the country, the PPP would support it. Shah said that all are responsible to weaken the parliament and the government is not implementing the Council of Common Interests (CCI) decisions.
Speaking on the issue, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Shafqat Mahmood termed the government's viewpoint regarding the institutions at this stage "crocodile tears," adding a hue and cry seems to be linked with some cases pending in the Supreme Court for adjudication. Regarding the government's view about judicial reforms, he said that there was a specific point of judicial reforms in the National Action Plan (NAP), but the government has so far done nothing on it.
He said the recent diatribe by the ruling party is not for sanctity of the parliament and democracy but to "protect a specific person." Mahmood said that the elected representatives are not above the law and this House cannot legislate in violation of the constitution.
Earlier responding to a point raised by PTI member Shireen Mazari regarding possible placement of Pakistan on global terror financing watch-list, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the recent move led by the US at the forum of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has nothing to do with foreign policy of Pakistan rather it is a move to increase pressure on Pakistan. He urged the members to respond to this move with one voice by passing a resolution that Pakistan cannot be cowed down through pressure as "we are fighting the war against terrorism in our own interest and we will continue doing so."
The minister said the placement of Pakistan on the watch-list will be counter-productive as this would tantamount to extending support to extremists. He also urged all institutions to work in harmony as confrontations will only benefit enemies of the country.
PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai urged the prime minister, army chief and chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of alleged manipulation for the Senate elections as "bidding" is being done over the MPAs. "Stop your people from interfering in politics if you agree with your oath," he said, "the establishment was behind the fall of Balochistan government." Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister of State Abid Sher Ali said that his ministry is filing a review petition with National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) regarding its report about loss of more than 15 billion units of electricity by public-sector power generation companies during the last two years.
He clarified that the loss of the units was well within the parameters as defined by the NEPRA and the government is going to challenge its report. FATA members staged a token walkout from the House over alleged extrajudicial killing of a Pashtun student in Karachi. PTI member Lal Chand Malhi pointed out the lack of quorum and Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi adjourned the House till today (Tuesday).