Speaker of the National Assembly, Raja Pervez Ashraf, has told Supreme Court (SC) in a letter to avoid getting involved in political matters.
The SC must, as far as possible, avoid getting involved in [the] political thicket. It is best to leave resolution of political matters by the parliament and the political parties,” he wrote.
Noting the SC’s decision to release Rs21 billion for elections in Punjab and KP, the Speaker said that the “three-member bench’s orders have completely disregarded the constitutional process and the prerogative of the National Assembly with respect to financial matters.”
He added that the bench seemed to be in a hurry to give unusual directions to the federal government to authorise the expenditure of Rs21 billion.
Raja Pervez Ashraf further said that the power of the purse belonged solely to the lower house of parliament, adding that the assembly would defend its right.
At the outset of the letter, the speaker said he was writing to convey the “profound concern and unease” of the country’s elected representatives regarding recent decisions by the top court as well as comments passed by judges.
Ashraf said the assembly would approve the expenditure for general elections to all assemblies in the annual budget for the next fiscal year.
The decision to write a letter came about during a National Assembly session held on Wednesday when many federal ministers opposed the SC verdict about elections.
It is pertinent to mention that before this development, the federal cabinet also disapproved the verdict of the top court of giving money to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) so that election can take place in May.
The SC will resume hearing on election matter today.
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