LAHORE: Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh of the Lahore High Court on Monday sought a reply from the federal government on a petition seeking an order to declare the parliament a powerful and supreme institution of the country to hold the judges and officers of armed forces accountable.

The Lawyers Foundation for Justice filed the petition through Advocate AK Dogar, saying the state used its powers through elected members. He said the judges and the armed forces should be brought into the net of accountability as Islam does not allow immunity to anyone.

He argued that it would be a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution if judges and officers of the armed forces were not held accountable by the parliament. He contended that the parliament be declared a supreme institution which could summon judges as well as the heads of the armed forces.

The petitioner’s counsel also sought a court declaration for application of the NAB law on officers of the armed forces and judges as well.

The judge adjourned hearing till Jan 10 and also directed the petitioner’s counsel to come up with arguments on the maintainability of the petition.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018