Chief Justice (CJ) Islamabad High Court (IHC) Athar Minallah has remarked “ respect the parliament as much degradation has taken place and there should be no more degradation now.
The CJ IHC gave these remarks while presiding over a 3-member bench of IHC during the hearing of a petition filed against adjourning National Assembly (NA) session by deputy speaker Qasim Suri here Friday. .
The counsel for the petitioner told the court NA was summoned on April 16 and was adjourned till April 22. Deputy speaker is now acting speaker as the speaker has resigned from his seat.
Justice Amir Farooq inquired during the hearing of the case the important agenda of this session is to election speaker NA.
The counsel for the petitioner told the court yes speaker NA has to be elected in this session. the removal of deputy speaker is not included in the agenda of April 16 session. Now NA is functioning without speaker. Deputy speaker is acting speaker. No confidence motion has been submitted to remove deputy speaker.
The court remarked it has been said in the rules the session be summoned as soon as possible. Summoning the session or otherwise is the inner proceedings of the session. What is the problem if the session is summoned on April 22.
The defence counsel told the court no confidence resolution has come against the deputy speaker. He can issue no order.
The court remarked there is no such restriction in the rules that he cannot sit in his office or he cannot give any order. What reasons have been given for adjourning the session.
The defence counsel said no specific reason has been described to adjourn the session. The case pertains to the inner proceedings of the parliament. But the decisions of the Supreme Court (SC) are there. SC larger bench has suspended the ruling of deputy speaker. SC has made it clear in Azhar Siddique case that the court can interfere where.
Justice Babar Sattar inquired can deputy speaker issue agenda regarding his own removal. You want to say what that he can delay the matter more. You have no ground. We can not give such order. NA has been summoned on April 22. Let the session take place.
The defence counsel said if the NA session was not summoned on April 22.
The court remarked NA session is not summoned on April 22, is only presumption . Respect the parliament.
The counsel for the petitioner Mansoor Awan requested the court notice be issued on Monday.
The court issued notices to federation, deputy speaker NA Qasim Suri and secretary NA.
Parliament has been degraded too much already, There should be no more degradation of parliament.
The counsel for the petitioner told the court we have no hand in degradation of the parliament.
The court issued notices to the respondents and sought reply on April 22.
The hearing of the case was adjourned till April 22.
