The legal community has expressed concern over the possible government-judiciary clash.
Notwithstanding the tough stance taken by the Supreme Court over non-compliance of its orders by the government, Pakistan's ruling coalition has vowed to defend the "supremacy of Parliament" and made it clear that it would not back off on the key issue of authority of executive.
During a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of leaders of the coalition parties at the presidency, which was jointly presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, it was decided that they would defend the "supremacy of Parliament", the Dawn daily reported today.
"Coming as it does against the background of a tough stance taken by the Supreme Court over non-compliance of its orders by the government (in corruption cases and other issues), the decision may have serious implications for the future of national politics," it said of the last night meeting.
The legal community has expressed concern over the possible government-judiciary clash.
It has been decided that Gilani would address the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, on Monday. The president has summoned a session of the house.
"The speech of the prime minister will be polite but revealing and will give a message to the judiciary and other organs of the state that all institutions should work under their ambit and the legal and constitutional framework," unnamed sources were quoted as saying.
The decision was taken after the Supreme Court gave a 24-hour deadline to the prime minister to submit his reply on the issue of relegating a secretary to the post of officer on special duty.
The coalition partners said they were ready to pay any price, even sacrifice their government, but would not compromise on the supremacy of Parliament and the Constitution.
The Supreme Court has cancelled transfers of senior bureaucrats, a move that annoyed Gilani and other government leaders.
Gilani even said that former Secretary Establishment Sohail Ahmed had challenged his authority when he cancelled the appointment of a senior officer on the orders of the Supreme Court.
The prime minister immediately made Secretary Establishment as Officer on Special Duty, shortly after he acted on the advice of the Supreme Court.
President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jehangir has backed the Supreme Court and asked the government to respect the judiciary.
The government has refused to transfer the inspector general of police (IGP), Gilgit-Baltistan, Hussain Asghar, to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe the Haj scam, despite orders of the Supreme Court.
Local media reports claimed that some top government officials were involved in the scam. The Supreme Court is looking into the matter.
The then minister for religious affairs Hamid Saed Kazmi has already been arrested and faces trial.
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