December 25, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 26, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Dec 24: Law Minister Farooq H. Naek reiterated on Wednesday that the government was a ‘disinterested party’ in the controversy over grant of additional marks to a daughter of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

“Parliament is supreme and it has to act within the ambit of the Constitution and rules framed by the National Assembly,” the minister said while talking to Dawn.

He said judiciary was independent and acts in accordance with its own rules and provisions of the Constitution. He said the government would accept whatever decision was taken either by parliament or court. He rejected allegations that the government was a party to the ruling by Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza of barring the NA Standing Committee on Education from probing into the allegation of favours done to Farah Hameed Dogar till the Islamabad High Court, seized with the issue, decides the matter.

Mr Naek said the standing committee had been constituted under the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly to fulfil the requirement of Article 67 (1) of the Constitution. The rules as well as the Constitution carry more weight than any other legislation and thus the standing committee has been constituted under Chapter 20 of these rules.