Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Friday gave the law ministry two weeks to submit a response in a petition challenging promulgation of eight ordinances by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. A single-bench presided over by IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard the plea filed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The high court appointed lawyers Raza Rabbani, Abid Hassan Manto, Makhdoom Ali Khan, and Babar Awan as amicus curiae and directed them to submit a written response. Justice Minallah questioned what circumstances made the Imran Khan-led government bypass the Parliament by promulgating the ordinances. When MNA Mohsin Ranjha’s counsel Umer Gillani argued that the government had failed to submit a response despite the passing of a month, Justice Minallah inquired whether the government had taken back the ordinances. “The government has instead issued more ordinances,” Gillani replied and added that the most recent NAB Amendment Ordinance 2019 provided legal cover to businessmen and bureaucrats. Observing that the federal government was violating rule of law, Justice Minallah remarked that the high court would uphold the supremacy of the Parliament. The hearing was adjourned for two weeks.
