ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that the opposition parties had undermined the sanctity of the parliament by taking the issue of the ruling of Speaker National Assembly to the court.

Speaking to media representatives during his visit to the residence of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here, the prime minister said that he has discussed issues related to the budget with the Fazlur Rehman.

He said the JUI-F chief has always played a positive role for the promotion of democracy and strengthening of democratic institutions.

The prime minister said it was priority of the government to provide relief to the public in the upcoming budget.

To a question about the opposition's move to challenge the ruling of NA speaker in the Supreme Court, he said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) did not take the political issues to the courts but fought them in the political field.

The premier said the opposition undermined the parliament and its supremacy by taking the issue to the court.

The opposition should have held the Parliament sacred, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party had always taken a serious and balanced stance on political issues.

He said everybody should have waited for the courts and their equivalent institutions to take decisions but, as it seems now, that politics was being played on the issue of speaker’s ruling.