Govt mulls simultaneous judges restoration, amends

ISLAMABAD—It is being considered to present on the same day the resolutions for restoration of judges and Constitutional Package in the Parliament. A private TV channel citing sources said after presentation of Constitutional Package, the resolution for judges’ restoration will also be tabled on the same day at the National Assembly. It has also been learned that the employment tenure of Chief Justice may also be reviewed.
The coalition Government is committed to restore the deposed judges as per the Murree Declaration and there should be no confusion in this regard whatsoever, said Farooq H. Naek Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs while talking to a delegation of Islamabad Bar Association who called on him here Wednesday.
He said that by ordering the release of deposed judges, the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani started the process of judge’s restoration the day he took oath. The Minister further told that his Ministry has started its work on amending the NAB Ordinance and the amendments in the ordinance will be made very soon.
Minister further informed that government is working on a number of proposals to improve the working of courts and to provide easy and speedy justice to the people. In this regard, government will make arrangements for working of the courts in the evening as well so that backlog of cases can be settled without further delay.
Government also plans to setup an Autonomous Public Defender Office, which will be headed by a retired judge and manned by lawyers so that poor people can have easy access to justice, he said. Government also plans to do away with the surety law so that poor people can get bails easily because it is difficult for them to meet the surety requirements. Similarly, government is also working to re-introduce the proviso that if a murder case is not decided within two years the accused will be able to get bail and if the cases other then murder are not settled within one year the accused will be eligible to get bails, said the Minister.
Earlier the delegation of Islamabad Bar Association congratulated the Minister on taking charge of the Law Ministry and also briefed him about their problems. Minister assured the delegation that all their problems and demands will be looked into and necessary steps will be taken to address them as early as possible.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday underlined that faith of President Musharraf will be decided in a democratic manner by the Parliament. The thorny issue of Judges cannot be solved immediately, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani expressed these views while addressing the seminar on “Economic Freedom: A Stimulator in Achieving Business Excellence in South Asia” in Lahore on Tuesday and later talking to Journalists
Addressing the seminar Prime Minister urged it is our collective responsibility to demonstrate the courage, commitment and foresight to transform South Asia into a progressive, peaceful and prosperous region. “I am confident, PM said that the South Asian Business Community has the ingenuity; the determination and the imagination to make such a transformation that could help achieve these noble objectives for which SAARC was created”.—Agencies