News
Monday, April 26, 2010
Shujaat vows to table 19th Amend in next NA session
* PML-Q president says coalition govt should focus on resolving issues like price hike, inflation and load shedding
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday announced the tabling of the 19th Amendment Bill in the parliament, saying his party had expressed its dissent on some clauses of the 18th Amendment Bill.
Addressing a press conference, Shujaat asked the coalition government to shift its focus to resolving issues being faced by the masses.
“The government should not make mistakes committed in the 18th Amendment, rather it should focus on resolving real issues including price hike, inflation and load shedding,” he said.
Shujaat said that after the passage of the 18th Amendment Bill, people were still confused about some clauses of the amendment.
He said his party had raised its concerns and had also filed a note of dissent on at least four clauses.
Elaborating on the amendments his party was going to table in the upcoming parliamentary session, Shujaat said since education was a provincial subject, his party had a clear vision vis-à-vis the curriculum. “The curriculum of educational institutions should reflect national cohesion and the ideology of Pakistan, along with being in accordance with the teachings of Islam,” he said.
Opposing the deletion of clause 17/4 from the constitution, Shujaat said “It was surprising that the so-called democratic parties wanted autocracy within the political parties by not holding intra-party elections.” “The clause for intra-party elections must be incorporated in the constitution to discourage autocratic mindsets,” he added.
Criticising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shujaat said it was surprising that the party which had raised slogans for supremacy and independence of the judiciary had now backtracked from its stance.
“I am shocked to know that the PML-N now says that the apex court cannot hear a case against the 18th Amendment or accept any judgement against it. This is not only a ridiculous statement but also reflects the unconstitutional and autocratic approach of the PML-N,” he added.
Shujaat said the Supreme Court enjoyed powers to review and elaborate on any piece of legislation.
“Parliamentary system of governance has checks and balances. If the parliament has a right to legislate, the apex court has powers to review, elaborate and give a verdict over it. If the parliament passes a piece of legislation against the fundamentals and spirit of the constitution or against the ideology of Pakistan, the court may quash it,” he observed. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk