Constitutional amends likely, says AG
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Attorney General of Pakistan Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum has said that all necessary arrangements have been made for lifting emergency tomorrow (Saturday) and the constitution would be restored with minor amendments. Talking to journalists on Thursday Malik Qayyum said President Pervez Musharraf keeping his promise to the nation would lift the emergency before December 16 and Provisional Constitution Order would be dissolved.
He said all arrangements have been completed and tomorrow on Dec 15 the constitution would be restored and all laws that were in place before the November 3 would be implemented. However he emphasized that certain amendments might be made in the constitution. He said however no power is being given to president in the constitution to sack judges and press reports in this regard are baseless and devoid of facts. AGP also emphasized that those judges who did not take oath under the PCO they would not be reinstated at any cost. However he said that there would be certain amendments to give perks to these judges after their retirement. He expressed the hope that after the lifting of emergency the situation would improve for the better and all departments would function within their limits
Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum said Thursday that the emergency would be lifted on December 15 (Saturday) and five presidential orders would be issued the same day. The presidential orders to be issued are: Revocation of Proclamation of Emergency Order 2007; Repeal of PCO Order 2007; Revival of Constitution Order 2007; Establishment of Islamabad High Court Order 2007; and Grant of Pensionary Benefits to Judges Order 2007.
The Attorney General, who was speaking to reporters at his office in the Supreme Court building, said all fundamental rights would stand restored after the revocation of the Emergency Proclamation and repeal of the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO). He said the chief justices of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and all the four provincial high courts would take oath under the 1973 Constitution after the promulgation of the orders.
All judges of the superior courts would similarly take fresh oath under the Constitution, Qayyum said. Under the order related to pensionary benefits , all the unseated judges would be given full pensionary benefits, he said. Qayyum said a special provision was also being introduced to provide pensionary benefits to a judge of a high court who retires before completing a tenure of five years as permanent judge.
Responding to questions, the Attorney General said there was no move to introduce a fixed term for the chief justices of the Supreme Court and the high courts. He said no change was being made in Article 209 of the Constitution, related to the Supreme Judicial Council for accountability of judges of the superior courts.