LAHORE, Nov 25: The Punjab government is answerable only to the provincial assembly and not the governor who himself is violating the Constitution by promoting a political party (PPP) as its member, says Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan.

Talking to Dawn here on Tuesday, the law minister said according to Article 130 of the constitution, the provincial government, including its cabinet, is answerable only to the provincial assembly and the governor cannot hold it answerable on any issue. “Under which constitutional clause we should reply to his (Governor Taseer’s) letters,” he asked.

He said the governor could return a summary to the provincial government with any objection, but he was bound to sign it if it was again sent to him even without removing his objections.

Further quoting from the constitution, the minister said, the government runs its business in the name of governor who himself lacks any executive authority. “Article 105 of the constitution says the governor, in performance of his duties, is bound to act on the advice of the cabinet and the chief minister.” But he was doing just the opposite by writing letters to the PML-N,” he said.A governor, says the constitution, cannot remain member of a political party or campaign for it, he said, alleging that the present incumbent had always been working for a party in violation of the country’s supreme law.

To a question whether the provincial government is constitutionally bound to communicate to governor all its administrative and legislation-related decisions, he said: “Punjab is already doing this. We are sending all summaries to the governor for ratification, who is bound to sign them if they are sent for the second time even without removing his objections.”

To explain his point, the minister said the decision to convene a session of the provincial assembly was always taken by the government. But the session could be held only after the governor signed a summary sent to him by the provincial government. He couldn’t, however, have any authority to ask for the reasons of convening the session.

“The governor must sacrifice one evening’s activities and read the constitution (to know about his powers). And I am ready to teach him,” Rana Sanaullah said.

The law minister clarified that he had not levelled any ‘indecent’ allegation against the governor or his family. He had just explained that “drinking is banned anywhere in Punjab. And if the governor is not indulging in it, he must clarify it,” he said.

He said he had also not said anything against the governor’s family except just explaining that “they are like Britons”.