Pak bill to shield leaders from contempt cases
11 July 2012 7:33 AM IST
A bill aimed at shielding top Pakistani leaders from contempt charges and curbing the apex court's efforts to push Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf into reopening graft cases against the President has been approved by the lower house of Parliament.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek moved the Contempt of Court Bill of 2012 in the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament last night. It was subsequently passed after a brief debate amidst protests from the main opposition PML-N, which is opposed to the bill.
President Asif Ali Zardari had convened a special session of Parliament to introduce the bill. It will also be moved in the Senate, where it is expected to be passed.
The government intends to get the bill passed by both houses before the apex court takes up the issue of reviving the corruption cases against Zardari on 12 July. The Contempt of Court Bill provides blanket immunity to top government functionaries for executive actions.
REHMAN MALIK RESIGNS FROM PARLIAMENT
Former interior minister Rehman Malik, who is now adviser to the Pakistani prime minister on internal affairs, Tuesday said he has resigned from the Senate, the upper house of parliament.
The Pakistan Peoples Party [PPP] lawmaker said he submitted his resignation Monday, and has informed the party leadership about his resignation, Geo News reported.
He said he also wanted to quit from the post of adviser. But Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf asked him to continue.
The Supreme Court had earlier suspended Malik's Senate membership for holding dual nationality of Britain and Pakistan.
Malik said he told the court he had forfeited his British citizenship but he failed to provide sufficient documents.
A letter from the UK Border Agency [UKBA] issued May 29 informed the minister that his request to renounce his British citizenship has been granted.
The apex court recently also suspended the National Assembly membership of PPP lawmaker Farahnaz Ispahani, and issued notice to Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh on similar grounds of holding dual nationality.
On Tuesday, Malik denied that an amendment in the dual nationality bill is being approved by parliament for his benefit.
He said he had applied for surrendering his British citizenship in 2008 and also left his British business on the advice of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek moved the Contempt of Court Bill of 2012 in the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament last night. It was subsequently passed after a brief debate amidst protests from the main opposition PML-N, which is opposed to the bill.
President Asif Ali Zardari had convened a special session of Parliament to introduce the bill. It will also be moved in the Senate, where it is expected to be passed.
The government intends to get the bill passed by both houses before the apex court takes up the issue of reviving the corruption cases against Zardari on 12 July. The Contempt of Court Bill provides blanket immunity to top government functionaries for executive actions.
REHMAN MALIK RESIGNS FROM PARLIAMENT
Former interior minister Rehman Malik, who is now adviser to the Pakistani prime minister on internal affairs, Tuesday said he has resigned from the Senate, the upper house of parliament.
The Pakistan Peoples Party [PPP] lawmaker said he submitted his resignation Monday, and has informed the party leadership about his resignation, Geo News reported.
He said he also wanted to quit from the post of adviser. But Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf asked him to continue.
The Supreme Court had earlier suspended Malik's Senate membership for holding dual nationality of Britain and Pakistan.
Malik said he told the court he had forfeited his British citizenship but he failed to provide sufficient documents.
A letter from the UK Border Agency [UKBA] issued May 29 informed the minister that his request to renounce his British citizenship has been granted.
The apex court recently also suspended the National Assembly membership of PPP lawmaker Farahnaz Ispahani, and issued notice to Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh on similar grounds of holding dual nationality.
On Tuesday, Malik denied that an amendment in the dual nationality bill is being approved by parliament for his benefit.
He said he had applied for surrendering his British citizenship in 2008 and also left his British business on the advice of President Asif Ali Zardari.
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