SC attempting to prevent govt from completing term, says Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that the Supreme Court is attempting to prevent the federal government from completing its term, calling for greater transparency and accountability of the judiciary. In a fiery speech on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Asif alleged that judges of the top court were trying to undermine the elected government and prevent it from completing its term. The minister called for unity among all parties in defending the Parliament, emphasising the importance of the mandate of elected representatives in the country's system. "The people's representatives reach Parliament after winning millions of votes. There is no substitute for the mandate of the public representatives in this country's system,” he said. Also read: CJP seeks record of parliamentary proceedings on SC bill “Questions have been raised on the mandate of Parliament. But no institution has served the people as much as the public representatives have," he added. He said that nothing was hidden about those elected by the public votes. The defence minister demanded a historical record of judges and their actions since Pakistan's creation to be made public. “The proceedings of the House are shown on TV, but the judicial proceedings are not. We respect the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court needs the minutes of Parliament's proceedings, we will provide them, but the Speaker should also request the record of judicial proceedings from the Supreme Court," he said. Asif said that holding negotiations and mediations was not the job of the apex court, and that lawmakers must unite to defend to the Parliament in every situation. "PTI received facilitators in 2018, and they have received them again now. Parliament will have to become a wall in front of these facilitators," said the defense minister. Asif also expressed concern over the treatment of apex court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa, questioning the judiciary's own commitment to upholding its honour. He urged the Supreme Court to recognise its limitations within the Constitution and called for greater transparency and accountability of the judiciary and its judges. Also read: Will CJP’s dinner heal SC divisions? He proposed the formation of a special committee in the National Assembly to oversee matters related to the judiciary and judges, aiming to ensure a fair and transparent system. Asif also called for mutual respect between the Supreme Court and the Parliament, suggesting that the NA Speaker should also request a record of judicial proceedings from the Supreme Court. He stressed the need to protect the prime minister and ending the tradition of toppling elected governments, urging all parties to work together for the dignity, honor, and supremacy of the Parliament.

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