Coalition upbeat over judges issue
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Top constitutional expert Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim on Wednesday briefed a high-level meeting of three likely partners in the future coalition government, suggesting modalities to resolve the judicial crisis through the new parliament and left the participants upbeat about the restoration of the deposed judges.
“The country will soon hear good news as we are very hopeful that the crisis will be resolved amicably,” a participant told Dawn on condition of anonymity.
The over 90-minute meeting was held in a hotel after the conclusion of the ‘show of strength’ gathering hosted by Asif Ali Zardari.
The mainstream political parties are seeking assistance of a number of senior legal experts on the two-fold judicial crisis -- how to reinstate the deposed judges who were removed after the proclamation of the November 3 emergency and what may become of the present judges who took oath under the PCO, but later took a fresh oath under the Constitution after the lifting of the state of emergency.
Renowned human right activists and constitutional expert Asma Jehangir has already met Mr Zardari in this regard.
Mr Ibrahim, who commands respect for his independent views on important national issues, was especially flown in from Karachi to help the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Awami National Party to find a viable solution.
The PPP was represented by Mr Zardari, Amin Fahim, Raza Rabbani, Farooq Naek and Sardar Latif Khosa. Nawaz Sharif was assisted by Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar. Asfandyar Wali was alone from the ANP side.
“Basically we have discussed the modalities on how to handle the prevailing crisis through parliament so that there could be minimum of pit holes,” the participant said.
“Our focus during the discussion was on how to restore the judiciary and we are hopeful that the issue would be resolved through parliament soon,” he said.
Another source privy to the meeting said that the effect of removing a large number of superior court judges could be nullified through a simple law by parliament since President Pervez Musharraf had already accepted that his action was extra-constitutional.
The simple law could also take care of the recent judgment of validating the November 3 emergency by the Supreme Court which had also declared the cases of deposed judges as past and closed transaction.
A petition could also be filed in the apex court on the issue since no detailed arguments took place regarding the judge’s issue.
Though having no legal binding, a resolution both by the National Assembly and the Senate could be adopted, he said.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Top constitutional expert Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim on Wednesday briefed a high-level meeting of three likely partners in the future coalition government, suggesting modalities to resolve the judicial crisis through the new parliament and left the participants upbeat about the restoration of the deposed judges.
“The country will soon hear good news as we are very hopeful that the crisis will be resolved amicably,” a participant told Dawn on condition of anonymity.
The over 90-minute meeting was held in a hotel after the conclusion of the ‘show of strength’ gathering hosted by Asif Ali Zardari.
The mainstream political parties are seeking assistance of a number of senior legal experts on the two-fold judicial crisis -- how to reinstate the deposed judges who were removed after the proclamation of the November 3 emergency and what may become of the present judges who took oath under the PCO, but later took a fresh oath under the Constitution after the lifting of the state of emergency.
Renowned human right activists and constitutional expert Asma Jehangir has already met Mr Zardari in this regard.
Mr Ibrahim, who commands respect for his independent views on important national issues, was especially flown in from Karachi to help the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Awami National Party to find a viable solution.
The PPP was represented by Mr Zardari, Amin Fahim, Raza Rabbani, Farooq Naek and Sardar Latif Khosa. Nawaz Sharif was assisted by Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar. Asfandyar Wali was alone from the ANP side.
“Basically we have discussed the modalities on how to handle the prevailing crisis through parliament so that there could be minimum of pit holes,” the participant said.
“Our focus during the discussion was on how to restore the judiciary and we are hopeful that the issue would be resolved through parliament soon,” he said.
Another source privy to the meeting said that the effect of removing a large number of superior court judges could be nullified through a simple law by parliament since President Pervez Musharraf had already accepted that his action was extra-constitutional.
The simple law could also take care of the recent judgment of validating the November 3 emergency by the Supreme Court which had also declared the cases of deposed judges as past and closed transaction.
A petition could also be filed in the apex court on the issue since no detailed arguments took place regarding the judge’s issue.
Though having no legal binding, a resolution both by the National Assembly and the Senate could be adopted, he said.
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