The perimeters of 'contempt' are nowhere defined and Parliament is the ultimate arbiter of what amounts to contempt of the House, writes Dr SHAD SALEEM FARUQI
FREEDOM of speech during parliamentary proceedings is one of the most cherished principles of electoral democracies. The Federal Constitution safeguards this principle by providing in Article 63(2) that no person shall be liable to any court proceedings in respect of anything said or any vote given by him when taking part in proceedings of either House. State constitutions have similar provisions.