ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was quick in eating his words on Tuesday on judges’ ratification issue and said that in his Monday’s speech, he did not mean to say that the judges, who were restored through his executive order, required ratification from the Parliament.
He, once again, made it loud and clear that whatever would be the interpretation of the apex court on the judgesÂ’ appointment issue the Government would accept it and implement it in its true letter and spirit.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Premier Gilani said that in his MondayÂ’s address in the Parliament, he did not mean to say that the judges who were restored through his executive order, needed to be approved by the Parliament. However, he said that he tried to say that at the time of restoration of judges, this issue had arose and some legal minds were of the view that in case of restoration of the judges through an executive order, they would be requiring ratification of the Parliament.
He recalled that the decision of restoration of the judges was made at around 12.00 mid-night on March 16, 2009 but he made the decision public at around 6.00 in the morning only because he was having the input of the legal minds in the draft of the executive order for restoration of the judges to avoid legal complexities.
He further said that there was also a proposal that the judges should be restored through passage of a resolution from the Parliament but in his view the executive order was the better option for it and he did it in consultation with the legal experts.
He, once again, said, “ The Parliament is the supreme body and it has the right to write and rewrite the Constitution,” and quickly added that the Government would accept the decision of the apex court.
He further said, “Under the Constitution, President of Pakistan is the authority to appoint judges with consultations of Chief Justice of Pakistan.” But the consultation should be meaningful, he said. He added that in this connection the Government had requested the court to further interpret the procedure for appointment of the judges.
He further said if the Parliament, which is the supreme body, wants that a judge should appoint a judge, then they are ready to do it as well.
He said that the Constitutional Reforms Committee of the Parliament was in session and in case they came up with some other mechanism for the appointment of judges then the Parliament had every right to do legislation in this regard.
He, however, made it clear that whatever amendments the Committee would propose, the current vacancies in the apex judiciary would be filled through the existing mechanism.
Earlier, the National Assembly on Tuesday referred four bills, introduced by private members, to the standing committees concerned of the House for further discussions. These bills include Rehabilitation Authority for Victims of Violence and Abuse Bill moved by Mrs. Yasmeen Rehman and Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuhu and Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill moved by Ms. Bushra Gohar. Dr. Azara Fazal Pechuhu and others moved the HIV/AIDS Safety and Control and Raja Muhammad Asad Khan and others moved the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill before the House.
Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khurshid Shah has said that the Government held the judiciary in high esteem and was bound to implement its verdicts on all issues. Responding a point of order in the National Assembly raised by Ms. Anusha Rehman, he said the PPP was among those, which made efforts for restoration of the judges. Referring to speech of the Prime Minister in the House yesterday, he said that he (PM) had no intention to disgrace the judiciary but he talked about the difficult position, which the Government was facing for their restoration. Later, the House resumed discussion on an adjournment motion regarding construction of Baghliar and Kishan Ganga Dams and Wuller Barrage by India in violation of Indus Basin Water Treaty.
The members of the National Assembly, taking part in the debate on aforesaid issue, urged the Government to take up water issue with India on the international level.
They said that India was violating Indus Basin Water Treaty and was working on a plan to construct dams to utilise Pakistani water that must be stopped. They condemned India for construction of Baghliar Dam and its plans for construction of Kishan Ganga Dam and Wuller Barrage. The members said that Pakistan was facing acute shortage of water and according to the United NationsÂ’ report that per capita water availability has come down from 5500 cubic metres in 1950 to 1000 cubic metres at present. They said that Pakistan was being converted into a desert and the Government should take the notice of the situation and should make efforts to compel India for implementing Indus Basin Water Treaty.
Those who took part in the debate include Ms. Palwasha Khan, Humayun Saifullah Khan, Mir Munawar Talpur, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Aftab Jilani, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Riaz Hussain Pirzada.
Federal Minister for Labour and Chief Whip, Khurshid Shah in response to a point of order gave assurance to the House that women travellersÂ’ respect and honour at security check post in FATA and settled areas would be ensured.
“Checking is a routine process but we shall ensure respect of the women,” he said. However, he mentioned that in some cases terrorists wear veils to carry out terrorist activities. The Minister proposed to have scanners or deployment of lady security personnel for checking of the women.
Kamran Khan, on a point of order, said in settled areas adjacent to Waziristan, the women were humiliated during checking at police and FC check posts. “These personnel should be ordered to maintain respect of the women and alternate security arrangements should also be ensured,” he added.
On another point of order, Bushra Gohar pointed out serious irregularities mentioned in the audit report of a USAID funded project executed in FATA during 2008. The member demanded that the audit report in the House should be presented, as she claimed that money allocated for the FATA under certain other projects was not properly spent in the area.
Mahboobullah Khan urged the Government to continue projects of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and recounted number of projects successfully executed under this programme. “The NCHD has got enrolled 8.2 million children between 5-7 years age, at schools in 117 districts, technically trained 13.77 million women in 80 districts, trained 669,000 women for vaccination, trained 327,000 volunteers and trained thousands of the Government employees,” he said.
Gul Muhammad Jakhrani demanded to close down the power plant being installed on the Chashma Canal.
Khalida Mansoor demanded of the Government to brief the House about recent population control agreement with UNFPA. Nadeem Afzal Gondal demanded ban on the dowry, saying that millions of poor people in the country could not get their daughters married due to this curse.