Parliament, not the Supreme Court is supreme in Pakistan

Islamabad, Dec.6 (ANI): The battle between the Parliament and the Supreme Court in Pakistan seems to be heading for yet another confrontation. Even though Pakistan boasts that it has an established democracy, it doesn't have the hierarchy of rule which exists in a true democratic state.

"Parliament is supreme and we hope that the principle of parliamentary supremacy will be established and accepted by all in accordance with the Constitution," the media adviser of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari , Farhatullah Babar, said.

"Parliament is supreme and let there be no doubt or mistake about it," Babar added.

Babar also showed his extreme concern over the Supreme Court's unprecedented intervention in the working of parliament of the country.

However, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Enver Baig came up with a more aggressive stance, demanding resignation of the chief justice Abdul Hamid Dogar.

"The Supreme Court can only interpret laws and in the case of Justice Dogar it is most disgraceful, and the way the Supreme Court directly confronted with parliament, which speaks on behalf of the people of Pakistan, is unfortunate," he added.

Minister for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination and leader of the house in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, also defended the supremacy of parliament.

"In any parliamentary form of government, whether it is a written or un-written constitution, parliament is supreme over all other institutions functioning through or under the constitution,"Rabbani expressed.

"No institution functioning through or under the constitution can impinge upon the sovereignty of parliament," he said.

"It is only Senate chairman and National Assembly speaker, who can control or regulate the procedure and functioning of parliament,"Rabbani added.

"Traditionally and historically the sovereignty of parliament has been guarded very jealously and no institution can infringe upon this sovereignty," he said.

Majority of the cabinet members belonging to the PPP showed their resentment against the stay granted by the Supreme Court and described it as 'encroachment on the powers of parliament.'

Senior members of the cabinet approached the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to support the supremacy of parliament. (ANI)