Islamabad, July 29: Notwithstanding the tough stance taken by the Supreme Court over non-compliance of its orders by the government, Pakistan's ruling coalition has vowed to defend the "supremacy of Parliament" and made it clear that it would not back off on the key issue of authority of executive.
 During a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of leaders of the coalition parties at the Presidency, which was jointly presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, it was decided that they would defend the "supremacy of Parliament", the Dawn daily reported today.
 "Coming as it does against the background of a tough stance taken by the Supreme Court over non-compliance of its orders by the government (in corruption cases and other issues), the decision may have serious implications for the future of national politics," it said of the last night meeting.
 Legal community has expressed concern over the possible government-judiciary clash.
 It has been decided that Gilani would address the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, on Monday. The President has summoned a session of the house.
 "The speech of the Prime Minister will be polite but revealing and will give a message to the judiciary and other organs of the state that all institutions should work under their ambit and the legal and Constitutional framework," unnamed sources were quoted as saying.
 The decision was taken after the Supreme Court gave a 24-hour deadline to the Prime Minister to submit his reply on the issue of relegating a Secretary to the post of Officer on Special Duty.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST