The Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday decided to refer the issue of non-compliance by the Supreme Court registrar to the National Assembly in two days’ time through a special report.
During an in-camera session on Tuesday, the PAC reviewed various options concerning the SC registrar’s refusal to appear before the accounts body in connection with audit paras and objections related to the Supreme Court from 2001 to 2010-11.
A source said all members of the committee were on the same page vis-à-vis the supremacy of the constitution.
Members were of the view that if elastic approach was adopted on issue of consolidated funds, other institutions like the Election Commission of Pakistan, Presidency and Prime Minister’s Secretariat could also follow in the footsteps and refuse to appear before the body.
After reviewing all three options against the SC registrar, PAC decided with consensus to refer the case to the National Assembly in form of a special report within two days, seeking an early decision by the assembly on this issue.
Giving a briefing to reporters after the meeting, PAC Chairman Nadeem Afzal Gondal said the move of the body did not mean any retreat from it’s stance, saying the particular option was chosen to avoid giving an impression of confrontation between the institutions.
He said the registrar looked after the financial matters of the Supreme Court and was not a judge by designation, so the matter under review by the committee did not fall under the conduct of judges and was, therefore, debatable.
“We respect the judiciary,” Gondal said. “That is why the option under review by the body to issue summons for detention and forced appearance of the registrar was rejected and it was decided to refer the issue to the National Assembly.”
“We do not want any confrontation among institutions, only the supremacy of law. However, it should be clear that the body has not retreated from its stance, as it is the duty of parliament to protect the public,” he added.
The PAC chief said it was up to parliament to summon the joint sitting of the House or call some special sitting to review the issue, adding that matters were heading towards transparency.
To a question, Gondal said PAC could not dictate to parliament.
“We do not want to introduce any decision from the PAC platform. It is an internationally recognised forum and it is better for parliament to introduce some decision over the issue,” he added.
Gondal said PAC sought opinions of SCBA personalities, including Yasin Azad, Justice (r) Tariq, Justice (r) Shabar and others to avoid confrontation between institutions.