Majlis also does not have the authority to break the law- Govt

Press Secretary Abbas Adil Riza has said that the Peoples’ Majlis despite being a power of the state it does not have the authority to break the law and oppose the constitution.

Speaking to Miadhu Daily, Abbas said that the Majlis does not have the constitutional power to pass  laws contradicting the constitution. He said that the constitution is very clear on giving equal rights to all and it is unacceptable to pass any laws giving leaders of one of the state powers to be exempted from equality and justice.

“There are three powers of state. The leader of the executive is the President. The Speaker of the Peoples Majlis is the leader of the other state power. It is unjust that the vote on the motion of no confidence against the President is to be conducted as a secret ballot when the same motion against the Speaker and deputy Speaker is to be conducted in an open ballot,” he said.

Abbas said that if the Majlis misuse the constitution and takes advantage of the equality rights then this should be resolved through the courts of law.

“The vote of no confidence against a President was conducted in an open ballot very recently. However, now this amendment they are bringing to states that the motion of no confidence against the President and Vice-president will be conducted in a secret ballot while the motion of no confidence against the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker will be conducted in an open ballot,” he said.

Abbas said that the people will not accept this inequality and injustice ever. He said that the government will not accept this either and this issue should be resolved through the courts of law.

Meanwhile, the General Purpose Committee of the Majlis approved of several amendments to the Standing Orders at its 24thmeeting held on Wednesday. Committee-approved amendments include additions to Articles 167 (a), and 177.

Approved amendments to Article 177 now establish votes taken pursuant to Articles 172 and Article 173 as Secret Votes.

Article 172 lists conditions under which the parliament can vote to remove the President and Vice president from office. Article 172 (b) stipulates that a motion to remove the President and Vice-president must precede a declaration of impeachment signed by one third of the parliament. The declaration must then be presented to the floor and debated upon, and sent after a vote of acceptance to an eleven-member committee formed to that end, which represents each of the political parties in parliament, as per Article 172 (c). Article 173 states how this committee must function, and policy of committee approval through referendum.

Article 177 states the process of tabling a motion of no confidence against a member of the Cabinet. Article 167 (a) says that open ballots shall be held under all circumstances with the exception of circumstances prescribed in the Constitution which imposes the conduction of secret ballots. With the amendment to these Articles, all the votes described above have now been established as Secret Votes.