February 10, 2003	Monday	Zul Hijjah 8,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: The appointment of Law Secretary Justice Mansoor Ahmad as member of International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for four years has created resentment among the members of judiciary, who feel that the official took advantage of his being close to the executive authorities.

A source told Dawn that high-ups in the judiciary were upset at the appointment of Justice Ahmad as member of the ICT for Rwanda.

Sources in the judiciary say that Justice Ahmad, on receiving information from the United Nations through the foreign affairs ministry, got his name approved from the president, without sharing it with any judicial functionary or those responsible for keeping liaison with the judiciary.

The hefty salary package is the main source of miff as the secretary would draw $120,000 per year and after four years he would continue getting $50,000 per year for the rest of his life.

Justice Ahmad told Dawn that he had been elected as permanent judge of the UN court. He said he would continue as judge of Lahore High Court.

A source said it had been recommended to the prime minister that a committee should be formed to regulate the affairs of legal cell of the foreign affairs ministry, which referred such invitations to the law and justice ministry.

It has been recommended that a committee comprising high judicial functionaries and advisor to the prime minister on law and justice should look into the affairs of the cell.

Justice Ahmad is the second member of judiciary who has gone on an international assignment.

Justice Chaudhry Arif, a retired Supreme Court judge, was nominated by the government on the request of Gambia. He is chief justice of Gambia for two years, drawing a salary of $2,000 per month.

The UN General Assembly has elected 11 permanent judges to serve on the ICT for Rwanda.