Constitution, not parliament, supreme

LAHORE - Justice(r) Wajihuddin has said the parliament does not enjoy unbridled powers and Constitution not the parliament is supreme in Pakistan. He expressed these views at 'Meet the Press' programme arranged at Lahore Press Club. Substantiating his argument, he mentioned that the countries like United States, India and Pakistan have written constitutions that have defined the parameters of all institutions including parliament because it cannot change the basic structure of the Constitution. He said only in United Kingdom the parliament is supreme body because it does not have written constitution and its parliament could amend it with simple majority. Wajihuddin said the people of Pakistan had reposed confidence in new parliament as a result of legal fraternity and media's relentless struggle and if they do not deliver and join hands with foreign forces they will have to go. I intimate new parliament that they would have to deliver against all odds otherwise what happened in Nepal could happen in Pakistan anytime. He said the restoration of judiciary was not the end of their struggle as their real destination was to ensure independence of judiciary. He said Pakistan was now blessed with democratic government and new regime will have to prove its worth by taking exemplary measures for the nation. Commenting on the proposal of establishing 'evening courts' to facilitate the litigants, Justice Wajih said, it could not deliver the desired results, unless judges salaries and other facilities were improved. Expressing his views on international politics he said Pakistan is the most important country on world canvas because of its increasing strategic importance and for that it has been paying price over the eight years. The USA had planted Musharraf to protect its interests in the region, as it was evident from the fact that Musharraf took no second to concede USA's demands after 9/11 incident.   He said war on terror was a drama because it is a conspiracy hatched by US to capture the natural resources of the central Asia and Pakistan is a gateway to these states. He said the days of colonialism had gone. It is a time of equality. The American would have to talk us by sitting across the table and support the same system in Pakistan that is established in their own country. When asked whether or not the lawyers would welcome the constitutional package in question, he said they would comment on it after looking into it.  If it was made in the light of charter of democracy, signed in 2006 by Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif, they would welcome it. To another query, Justice Wajih said the newly formed government will have to restore the 'deposed' judges and she could not avoid this. They would have to swallow this bitter pill. President Lahore Press Club Mohsin Goraya and Secretary Moazam Fakhar were also present on the occasion who presented a bouquet to the honourable guest.

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