Judiciary under fire in NA for 'causing political instability'.

ISLAMABAD -- As the government attempted to curb the powers of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the National Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the Supreme Court (SC) to 'refrain from interfering in political and administrative affairs' and called for the formation of a full SC bench to hear constitutional matters.

Through the resolution, read out by Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in the rare presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the lower house of parliament called for 'non-interference' in the matters related to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), besides demanding same-day elections in the country under impartial caretaker set-up in line with Article 224 of the Constitution.

'This house believes that an unnecessary intrusion of the judiciary in the political matters is the main cause of political instability,' said the resolution, adding, 'The House endorses the decision of four judges of the apex court in the suo motu case relating to holding elections and supports their opinion, hoping that the SC would refrain from meddling into the political and administrative matters of the country.'

It further said: 'No infringement to be made to the constitutional rights of the ECP and the Commission should be allowed to hold elections as per its prerogative under favourable conditions.'

The bill and the resolution were tabled by the government in the assembly after the lawmakers during one-sided proceedings delivered fiery speeches in which they lambasted the superior court over 'judicial activism' and the formerly ruling PTI for allegedly trying to spread anarchy in the country.

Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf facilitated the government by giving ample time to the members...