ISLAMABAD: 

The Prime Minister’s Office has sought details of the speeches made by the ministries and divisions without the approval of the federal cabinet.

The premier’s secretary has sent a communiqué to all the ministries and divisions in this regard.

According to the document available with The Express Tribune, the PM Office has directed the ministries and divisions to submit the details of the speeches made without the approval of the cabinet by April 30.

The communiqué stated according to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the 2016 Mustafa Impex case, the prime minister, federal minister or a federal secretary cannot take a decision on behalf of the federal government.

Any decision taken by the federal government should involve the consent of the federal cabinet.

In Mustafa Impex case, a bench of the Supreme Court reminded the federal government that “[the prime minister] was neither a substitute nor a surrogate for the cabinet. He could not exercise its powers by himself.”

The communiqué stated that the decision of the federal cabinet is considered the decision of the federal government.

It has asked for the details of speeches made before August 18, 2016 without the approval of the cabinet.

It has also sought the details of the speeches delivered by the federal ministers and secretaries according to the authority bestowed upon them by the cabinet.

The cabinet secretary will brief the federal cabinet about the speeches made without its approval on May 5.