ISLAMABAD - A meeting of select cabinet members held under the chair of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has taken a number of decisions to run the day to day governmental affairs while the prime minister would be overseeing the overall functioning of the government from abroad.
Sources informed The Nation that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in London for heart surgery, would chair meetings of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the cabinet from there on Monday (May 30) afternoon through video link.
Constitutionally the PM is empowered to directly perform his governmental duties or delegate his powers to any of his cabinet colleagues in case of illness, accident or any other pressing eventuality, constitutional expert SM Zafar says.
Government sources said the decision of not delegating powers to anyone was taken to avoid bad taste among cabinet members, some of whom are not even at talking terms with each other. Delegation of powers to Dar may result in annoyance of some senior ministers, they said.
It would be first instance in the country’s history that the federal budget would be approved by the cabinet a couple of days ahead of its laying before the parliament as usually the budget document is approved just hours before its presentation in the national assembly. However, this is not a constitutional requirement but a parliamentary norm.
It would also be for the first time that prime minister would be heading such crucial meetings through video link.
The PM could get the job done by assigning duties to any of his cabinet colleagues in light of Article 90 clause 2 read with Article 91, clause 6, said SM Zafar, who remained part of parliament several times in the past.
Article 90 clause 2 reads, “In the performance of his functions... prime minister may act either directly or through federal ministers.” While Clause 6 of Article 91 says, “The cabinet, together with ministers of state, shall be collectively responsible to senate and national assembly.”
Sources said that as the constitutional experts were also divided on the issue of delegation of powers, so the legal brains of the party advised Nawaz Sharif to chair these important meetings through video link to avoid undue criticism on the government from opposition parties, which were already whipping the government on host of issues including the Panama leaks.
They said the driving force behind it was Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif who flew into capital Saturday morning and held meetings with federal cabinet members and close aides, both at PM House and Punjab House.
He had a long session with Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan on the current political situation, mainly focusing on the Panama leaks and its expected political and legal fallout.
A press release issued by PM media office said the PM is overseeing government affairs from London. He is duly assisted by his Principal Secretary, Military Secretary and other staff.
The prime minister is being kept abreast of the routine matters of country and his directives are conveyed to relevant quarters. He is in constant contact with ministers and others concerned. There are no postponements or delays in the routine functioning of state, it added.
Nawaz will undergo heart surgery and travel back on doctors advice. Naturally, the PM will be off from any governmental activity during the time of his operation. But he will be instantly discharging responsibilities as the Chief Executive after the surgery, the statement said.
It further said that all current and previous expenditures incurred on the prime minister’s treatment, lodging, etc in UK were borne by his family.