KARACHI: Noted constitutional lawyer Sohail Hameed has opined that Article 66 (1) gives absolute powers to a member of Parliament to express his views or to caste vote during proceedings of either house upper or lower (Senate of Pakistan and National Assembly).
Article 66: Privileges of members, etc
1. Subject to the Constitution and to the rules of procedure of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), there shall be freedom of speech in Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and no member shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
Mr. Sohail Hameed maintained that this Article when read with Article 63 (A), simply implies that any member of Parliament is free to vote as per his wish and conscience and his right to vote cannot be snatched away in any situation. Even Supreme Court cannot interfere in this respect, he opined adding that any reference by any authority before apex court in respect of restraining a member of Parliament is beyond jurisdiction and an exercise in futility, wasting the precious time of the court and the nation.
A government aided by hundreds of lawyers as Attorney Generals, Advocate General can raise sensible questions or seek interpretation of any clause or law if any ambiguity is seen floating on the surface, other wise shall restrain itself from agitating absurd questions, said Sohail Hameed Advocate.