Record of 1985 amendment be submitted, orders SC
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) said the Charter of Democracy (CoD) is a political document and enjoys no legal or constitutional status, Geo News reported Thursday.
The court also demanded the secretary of the National Assembly to present before the court Parliamentary record of the Constitutional Amendments made in the eras of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Ziaul Haq.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry while heading a 17-judge larger bench hearing various constitutional petitions filed against some provisions enshrined in the Eighteenth Amendment, said it does not add up to refer to the CoD in the case here, as it is a political document without any legal or constitutional status, adding, ‘We are meant here to review the 18th Amendment.’
Hamid Khan, the counsel for the Supreme Court Bar Association opening today’s proceedings with his arguments, said the Parliamentary Committee frequently mentioned the CoD in its report.
The Parliamentary Committee report, as Hamid Khan put it, contained the basic features of the Constitution.
The CJ said the judiciary should not be entangled in the politics, as its primary function is to interpret the Constitution not to be adrift in politics, urging, ‘Judiciary should not be dragged in the Charter of Democracy.’
The CJ said all the political parties were not on board while framing the CoD, it is just an agreement among some political parties, adding it is good of parties to enter agreements with each other.
Justice Shakirullah Jan said the signatories to the CoD did not have constitutional mandate.
Hamid Khan said the consultations held by the Constitutional Committee were kept under wraps and the Parliament accepted it without demur.
On this, the CJ Chaudhdry observed that it is up to the Parliament to accept the 18th Amendment; however, it should have been debated.
Justice Ramday said, ‘The loopholes in a proposed law surfaces, if it is mulled over by the Parliament.’
The court also demanded the Parliamentary record concerning the change in Objective Resolution through the Constitutional Amendment in 1985, whereby the words pertinent to religions freedom for the minorities were removed.
The apex court also asked the NA Secretary to submit the record of Interim Bills of 1972 and 1973.
The apex court adjourned the hearing of 18th Amendment case for two weeks till June 28.
Hamid Khan pleaded the court to give him one more day to complete his arguments. In the next hearing, Hamid Khan will continue with his arguments.
PM be consulted in LNG contract case, SC directs
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry directed that the Liquefied Natural Gas import matter should be resumed from where it was stopped short, Geo News reported Monday.
He was hearing a suo motu case of alleged irregularities in the LNG import contract.
The CJ Chaudhry said the consultations should be held with the Prime Minister for again taking the matter of LNG import contract to Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC).
Earlier, SM Zafar counsel of Petroleum Ministry completed his arguments, saying the negotiations for the contract are underway, adding no violation of any sort was committed in the process.
SM Zafar said the argument regarding loss worth one billion dollars is incorrect.
The case hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.
The Chief Justice said the apex court should be informed by tomorrow after the PM is consulted.
Allied parties meeting: Decision on NRO in limbo
November 3, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
Lahore, Pakistan:- Ruling alliance could not decide in the meeting in the President House about NRO’s tabling in the Parliament. President Asif Ali Zardari said that the PM would hold further consultations with legal experts and allied parties in this regard. Members of PPP, MQM, JUI(F), ANP and FATA were present in the meeting chaired by the President Zardari.
Different legal and other issues relating to the NRO and its opposition by the mainstream parties were discussed in the meeting. During the meeting, President Zardari detested the behaviour of PML-N regarding the NRO. He said that the government has faith on people’s power. He said that Constitution of 1973 would be restored in its true spirit.
Allied parties meeting: Decision on NRO in limbo was first posted on November 3, 2009 at 9:53 am.
Will Share Concerns With US Over KLB: FM Qureshi
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he will share with the US administration concerns of Pakistan on the Kerry- Lugar bill that will provide US 1.5 billion dollars annually to Pakistan for next five years.
Talking to media before leaving on an unscheduled visit to the US, Qureshi said “I will speak for the people of Pakistan.”
The Foreign Minister, who was part of the consultations held at the President House on Saturday and participated by the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief of Army Staff and the DG ISI, said he has been mandated to carry forward the message from “all the stakeholders” to the US authorities.
Will Share Concerns With US Over KLB: FM Qureshi was first posted on October 12, 2009 at 4:21 pm.
