By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Patriotic Front Vice President Given Lubinda says the decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly to order nine Members of Parliament whose seats were nullified to vacate the house is totally unacceptable.
Mr Lubinda said the party has since issued instructions to its legal team to approach the judiciary and determine if the ruling by the speaker can not be identified as nonsensical, illogical and unconstitutional.
Speaking earlier today, Mr Lubinda said the legal team has also been tasked to ask the judiciary whether or not, it is their duty to ensure they take measures to deter others from bleaching the doctrine of sub-judice.
Mr Lubinda said the team is also expected to find out if what Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti did is not commit contempt of court, because she commented on a matter that is actively in the courts of law.
“The only body in the country that can make a ruling on the nullified seats in parliament is the constitutional court and no other, the nine affected Members of Parliament have since been directed to go and sit in the gallery during the today’s Parliamentary proceedings,” he said.
Mr Lubinda also reminded Ms Mutti that her role is to chair meetings and not to interpret the law.
“Parliament is not set up to interpret the law and the chair of the meetings can not give himself or herself the power to do so, Ms Mutti should leave the interpretation of the law to the judiciary,” he said.
Yesterday, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti ordered nine Members of Parliament from the PF whose seats were nullified by the High court during the petitions to vacate the house until the time when the cases are concluded.
