Presidency justifies PDL Ordinance

ISLAMABAD: The Presidency on Thursday defended the decision to promulgate an ordinance regarding the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) and said that the government accepted the interim order of the Supreme Court with an open heart but it issued the PDL Ordinance as allowed under the Constitution and there was no contradiction between the two.“The president by issuing the ordinance, in accordance with the advice of the prime minister, achieved two important objectives in the given circumstances — first, it has shown respect to the independence of judiciary by upholding its verdict and second, it has demonstrated that law-making is to be done in accordance with the Constitution and that parliament is supreme,” said presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar while talking to media persons after the Supreme Court hearing here on Thursday.He said the Supreme Court had opined that the levy of Rs 120 billion in the name of carbon tax appeared questionable and pending a decision on it had stayed the levy. “The president has not suspended the carbon tax as it has already been suspended by the court verdict and the carbon tax has been abolished on the order of the apex court,” he added.Justifying the ordinance, he said the law-making through ordinances was not the most preferred or most desirable way of legislation but under the circumstances when the National Assembly was not in session and when circumstances so warrant, the Constitution under Article 89 provides for the promulgation of ordinances.“The president, under the advice of the prime minister, promulgated the ordinance, and it is within the ambit of the law and the Constitution,” he added.He said it was not important at what time the ordinance was issued. The importance lay in the fact whether the issuance of the ordinance was within the ambit of the Constitution and the law, he added.The presidential spokesman said the relief to the people was the most important factor for the government and no political government could be unmindful of it. “The government has been striking a delicate balance between relief to the people and hard political decisions for long-term economic viability,” he added.He said the levy of the PDL was a difficult political decision but at the same time critical for long-term economic viability. “Those who wish to challenge the ordinance may do so as there is complete freedom to everyone and the judiciary is free and independent. Those who wanted to pit institutions of the state against one another have been disappointed today,” he added.