No individual can amend Constitution: Deposed CJ
Bureau Report

KARACHI—Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said the judges who have not taken oath under Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) will soon be reinstated.
“We had announced decision against PCO on November 3. The judges who had taken oath under PCO and the verdict delivered to validate PCO had no legal standing. The judges who had not taken oath under PCO will soon be restored”, he said this while addressing Lahore High Court Bar general council meeting by telephone here Thursday.
Opinion of president Supreme Court Bar Association Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is very correct that the parliament with simple majority and government under administrative order can reinstate the deposed judges, he held . November 3 judiciary and judges will be reinstated soon, he added. There will be no law and order and democracy in the country if there is no independent judiciary and independent judges, he remarked. Peace, equality and development can not be ensured in any society without the rule of law and administration of justice, he underlined. Rule of law and independence of judiciary is not acceptable to the elements of vested interests but there is no room for such elements in the country now, he added.
The movement initiated by the lawyers for the independence of judiciary last year has now spilled into all parts of country, he said adding no demand except rule of law and independence of judiciary is being voiced all over the country.
Several movements come in the life span of nations for recovery adding the nations which capitalize on these opportunities are lucky and those which fail to avail them are unfortunate.
Mean while addressing Sindh High Court Bar general council meeting earlier he said an individual is not authorized to amend the constitution and urged the parliament not to indemnify the steps taken under PCO. Parliament will lose its credibility if it confers powers on a single man to amend the constitution, he added. There is no need to amend the constitution to reinstate the deposed judges, he said adding the deposed judges can be reinstated under the same administrative order of PCO under which the incumbent judges have been imposed.
Chief of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said efforts will continue for restoration of supremacy of judiciary in the country. Addressing a rally organized by the lawyers and members of civil societies here near Judicial Colony, he said judiciary will be made independent with the joint efforts and help of people.
He said historical win in the general elections is a success of all democratic forces, who wanted to make country politically stable and strong. He said all credit goes to the people who played their role for achieving success for democracy. Sharif said, “We are in a position to make major decisions for strengthening of democracy in the country. I congratulate people for their help to achieve success.” Punjab Government has decided to keep President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Aitizaz Ahsan into his house till formation of new Government, said Home Secretary Punjab Khusro Pervez Khan.
Talking to Private TV Channel on Thursday, he said, President SCBA would remain in house detention till formation of new Government, adding that, Aitizaz Ahsan violated the official order by coming outside the house last night. In order to ensure implementation strictly, the Punjab Home Secretary added, baric wires have been erected outside house of Aitizaz Ahsan in Lahore, besides deployment of heavy police. The 30 days house detention of Aitizaz Ahsan would end on March 02 but he will remain in detention.