Adviser to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan said on Monday that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s comments on giving the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis was a violation of the Supreme Court (SC) verdict and hence constituted contempt of court, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad along with other federal ministers, he said it was unfortunate that Shehbaz wanted to deprive overseas Pakistanis of the right to vote. “He wants that 10 million Pakistanis living abroad should have no say in political affairs of the country of their origin,” Babar remarked.
He said he wanted to make it clear to the opposition not to play with the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
He said article 8, 17 and 106 (2) guaranteed the right to vote to overseas Pakistanis, and that Shehbaz’s suggestion could not snatch this right from those Pakistanis living abroad. “Wherever, Pakistanis are living they have a right to cast votes,” he said emphatically.
Article 8 prohibited legislation against the teachings of Quran and Sunnah and also against the basic human rights of citizens of Pakistan.
“Another thing I want to say is that the opposition parties raised objections to the budget without reading the document,” he said, and added, “And later, they only suggested cut motions.”
Adviser to PM claimed contrary to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government which had a firm belief in the supremacy of parliament, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif had twice refused to accept the supremacy of parliament during the last two weeks.
He further said that the government was keeping its doors open for a dialogue with the opposition.