Dec 23 , 2015
NewsCentre’s move to extend Rangers powers unconstitutional, says PPP
By Asim YasinBabar says federal govt transgressing its mandate, authority; warns of consequences; Khursheed says Centre should do what it wants; Kaira wonders what Nisar thinks of himself; Bilawal calls PPP CEC meeting
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Tuesday said the federal government’s move to give powers to the Rangers was unconstitutional and amounts to transgressing its mandate and authority.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said that by rejecting the constitutional right of Sindh to limit the scope of the Rangers’ powers, the federal government had acted in sheer violation of the Constitution.
He quoted Article 147 which states: “Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, the government of a province may, with the consent of the federal government, entrust, either conditionally or unconditionally, to the federal government, or to its officers, functions in relation to any matter to which the executive authority of the province extends: Provided that the provincial government shall get the functions so entrusted ratified by the provincial assembly within 60 days”.
He said it is thus abundantly clear that the imposition of certain conditions on the authority of the Rangers as well as seeking ratification of those limitations from the provincial assembly is well within the constitutional right of the provincial government. “The federal government has transgressed its mandate and authority,” the spokesman said.
Babar said the PPP will not permit this invasion on the provincial domain and warned against its consequences for the political stability of the federation.
He said the party will fight against this highhandedness at all available forums including parliament and seek to overturn the decision of the federal government. “The party also calls upon enlightened public opinion to raise its voice against this assault on the Constitution,” he added.
He said the PPP rejects the contention of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that the Sindh government and assembly were seeking unconstitutional annulment or abridgment of a federal law namely the Anti Terrorism Act. “Neither the Sindh Assembly nor the provincial government have sought to annul the federal law,” he added.
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said the federal government may try whatever it can. He asked why Nisar feels shame in talking to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. “Is he afraid of the Sindh CM?” he questioned.
The opposition leader said things will go from bad to worse with such actions and the situation will deteriorate further. He said the Sindh government did not restrict any powers of the Rangers. “Nothing will be gained from such actions. They will worsen the situation even further in fact,” he said.
Moreover, he said Dr Asim’s case has got nothing to do with the powers of the Rangers.The PPP leader and former information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira asked what Chaudhry Nisar thinks of himself. “Is there a monarchy in Pakistan? Does Nawaz consider himself a king,” he questioned.
He said the situation would have not deteriorated had Nisar not held that threatening press conference. Meanwhile, the PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called a central executive committee meeting of the party over the issue of the Rangers powers on December 27. The CEC meeting will decide the party’s course of action over the issue of the Rangers powers.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk