National Assembly adopts contempt of court bill amidst protest

Amidst protests and shouting slogans, the National Assembly on late Monday adopted the Contempt of Court Bill 2012, putting aside warning of the apex court to strike down any law repugnant to the Constitution of Pakistan.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the main opposition party in the House staged a walk-out besides chanting slogans against the government.

The government passed the new legislation on contempt of court despite subtle indications by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that the superior judiciary would not make compromise on its freedom.

It is vital to mention here that the newly approved law made ridiculing courts and defying its orders in an appropriate manner a piece of cake for the rulers. The PML-N, which has less numbers in the House, termed it s black law.

In the meantime, the National Assembly also introduced another bill aiming to raise pensions for widows of judges from 50 per cent to 75 per cent. The opposition was of the opinion that the latest move was meant to divide the judiciary for ulterior objectives.

Senator Farooq H Naik, the Law Minister, introduced the two laws. Although the treasury benches faced tough resistance from opposite side, they sailed through with the bill.

The Law Minister while speaking to the media in the House said the bill included the 1974 Act and the amendment made in contempt law during the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s government.

If Speaker of the National Assembly expunges remarks of any lawmaker, it would not be quoted as evidence in the contempt of court case.

He said, “Anything said against the armed forces and judiciary would be considered unintentional evidence and shall not be used as evidence”. He referred to various constitutional provisions, saying the bill want aimed to creating balance.

Sardar Mehtab Khan Abbasi, the PML-N’s parliamentary leader in the national assembly, demanded of the government to take parliament as well as the people of the country into confidence over the agreements reached with the US administration as quid-pro-quo to open NATO supply routes.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jul 10 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.