The National Assembly is likely to validate the orders issued by former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani from April 26 – the day on which he was convicted of contempt – to June 19 – the day on which he was removed from office – tomorrow (Monday).
The government aims to use the recommendations of the Sanding Committee on Law and Justice’s report in a bill which would seek validation for the acts and decisions made by the former premier after his disqualification from office. The Supreme Court (SC) had issued a short order and consequently the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had issued a notice of disqualification from the National Assembly to Gilani with effect from April 26, 2012. Well-placed sources said that the bill titled “Validation Act 2012”, due to be presented on Monday, would include the entire country and would come into force immediately after passage from the House. The legislature had referred the said bill to the committee on July 9, which gave it a unanimous approval on September 25. Sources said that the chairperson of the committee would also present the report in the House which would recommend that the bill should be passed.
The draft of the bill said that per information the validation of acts and other orders notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force or any order or judgment of the SC, anything done, functions including parliamentary functions performed actions taken orders passed , directions issued, instruments made, MOUs executed national and international commitments made, process or communication issued, advice given to the president in any matter, including in respects of acts and ordinances, SROs and other legal instruments issued, powers confirmed, assumed and exercised, or appointments made by Gilani as the prime minister from 26-04-2012 to 19-06-2012 (both days inclusive), shall be deemed to have been validity done, performed taken passed , issued ,made , given , confirmed, assumed, executed, exercised and provisions of this act shall have and shall be deemed to always to have had effect accordingly. The bill said that no suit, prosecutions or other legal proceedings, including writ petitions, shall lie in any court or forum including the SC against any authority or any person, for or on account of or in respect of any order made, proceedings taken or act done or advice given whether in the exercise or purported exercise of the powers or functions of the former PM.
