Online News Paper

ISLAMABAD: Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar Thursday said issuing of presidential ordinance to impose petroleum development levy on petroleum products “shows respect to the independence of judiciary by upholding its verdicts.”
Talking to newsmen after hearing in the Supreme Court in the case today, he said the ordinance achieved two objectives, “To show respect to the independence of judiciary by upholding its verdicts and to demonstrate that law making is to be done in accordance with the Constitution and that Parliament is supreme.”
He said the apex court had opined that the levy of 120 billion rupees under the name of Carbon tax appeared questionable and pending a decision on it had stayed the levy.
The government accepted the interim order of the court with an open heart. It issued an Ordinance levying petroleum development levy (PDL), as allowed under the Constitution and there is no contradiction between the two, he added.
The spokesman mentioned that the President has not suspended the Carbon tax but it was already suspended by the court verdict.
“It is not important at what time the Ordinance was issued. What is impartant is whether the issuance of Ordinance was within the ambit of the Constitution and the law,” he said.
“Levy of PDL is a difficult political decision but at the same time critical for long term economic viability. Those who wish to challenge the Ordiance, may do so. There is complete freedom to everyone and the judiciary is free and independent.”