The PM definitely has a lot of discretionary powers which are to be used within the defined parameters of the constitution. People elect a government so that it delivers good governance and justice through a clean transparent bureaucracy selected on merit, acts as custodian of the national exchequer, state sovereignty, welfare of the people and collective national interests.
In every democratic country, the executive works within the confines of the law and is accountable for all transgressions of law. The sitting British PM had to tender a public apology for his contacts with a former CEO of a newspaper which was accused of the unethical act of phone tapping.
Tony Blair (while he was the sitting PM) was called to a police station when his son was caught for a minor offence. Our PM must understand that there exist no discretionary powers which entitle any public office holder to give patronage to their scions or cronies to plunder the state and harass poor innocent Hajjis, or violate merit.
The powers to interpret the constitution rest only with Supreme Court of Pakistan. When the elected executive chooses to violate the constitution, they lose their moral right to rule, which they enjoy under the constitution.
The civil and uniformed bureaucracy are paid servants of the state who are under oath to work within the ambit of laws and obey orders of the judiciary. Getting elected does not entitle a public office holder to flout laws, protect the corrupt and cause losses to the state exchequer, nor to intentionally create hurdles in the judicial process such as has been witnessed recently in Pakistan.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
