While hearing petitions questioning the legal status of a parliamentary commission on creation of new provinces, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday remarked that the parliament must stay within its constitutional provisions.
During the course of proceedings, Malik Munsif Awan, the leading counsel for the petitioners, argued that neither the constitution nor the rules of business allowed the commission to form new provinces, adding that the formation of a parliamentary body was unconstitutional.
The counsel said that people in Mianwali had been observing strikes to record protest against the recommendations of the “illegal” parliamentary commission. He said that the situation might get worse if the recommendations of the commission were not suspended.
Meanwhile, the additional attorney general informed the court that a resolution for the formation of commission had been unanimously passed in the National Assembly. In response, LHC Justice Khalid Mahmoud Khan said that the parliament had the right to legislate, but that does not imply that it hands over the entire country to India.
The court summoned the summary of the resolution from the federal government until March 5 and adjourned the hearing.
