170 ordinances promulgated from 2008 to 2018, IHC told.

ISLAMABAD -- The law ministry informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday that governments led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) promulgated 170 presidential ordinances from 2008 to 2018.

The ministry submitted a written reply during the hearing of a petition filed by PML-N's lawmaker BarrisAter Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha.

The petition cited PresiAdent Dr Arif Alvi, principal secretary to the prime minister and the secretaries of law, National Assembly and Senate as respondents.

The petition said the president, under Article 89 of the Constitution, was empowered to promulgate ordinances, which were a form of temporary legislation subject to two expressly stipulated conditions: when neither the Senate nor the National Assembly is in session; and if circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action.

It further said the president was bound to act on and in accordance with the advice of the federal government. This means that the ultimate responsibility for the promulgation of the impugned ordinances fell upon the federal government.

In its reply, the law ministry stated that the Constitution...