The Islamabad High Court has remarked that there is no reason that the court will interfere in National Assembly’s internal affairs when the deputy speaker’s actions do not seem to bear any mala fide intentions, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
These remarks were delivered by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah when a five-judge larger bench headed by him was hearing a petition on Friday against National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri for delaying assembly session.
The petition was filed by PML-N leader Murtaza Javed Abbasi.
Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Babar Sattar were also included in the larger bench which was hearing the case.
The petition says the circular through which the assembly session was delayed till April 22 was unconstitutional. It entreats the court to stop the deputy speaker from exceeding his powers.
Giving his arguments, the petitioner’s lawyer said that in April 13 circular, the assembly session was convened on April 16 for the election of assembly speaker after the resignation of its former custodian, Asad Qaiser.
Justice Amir Kiyani asked the lawyer if removal of deputy speaker was included in the agenda item of assembly’s April 16 sitting.
On which the lawyer replied in negative, saying that the April 16 agenda comprised only the election of assembly speaker. He said the office of speaker could not be left vacant for long as per the rules.
Chief Justice Minallah inquired what difference would it make if the assembly session was convened with a delay of just few days.
He wondered why the court would interfere in the internal affairs of the National Assembly. The sanctity of parliament should be respected, he said adding that the deputy speaker could not preside over assembly’s session on the day of no-confidence motion against him.
CJ Minallah remarked since deputy speaker was not accused of breaching any rules, then the court would not interfere in this matter.
However, the court issued notices to the federal government, NA deputy speaker and NA secretary directing them to submit their replies till next hearing of the case on April 22.
Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani