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LAHORE: Attorney General Irfan Qadir on Monday said that the judiciary should treat the office of the country's prime minister with respect and sanctity, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to media representatives during a visit to the Lahore Bar Association, Qadir said that under the Constitution, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf was the head of the government and not answerable before any court of law.
He added that the court should respect the office of the premier.
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had respected the courts and the courts should had treated him similarly, the attorney general said.
Qadir moreover said that the court should create an environment which does not lead to a clash between the state's institutions.
The attorney general’s remarks come in the wake of the show-cause notice issued to Prime Minister Ashraf for not implementing the NRO judgment and the federal government’s filing of review petitions challenging the scrapping of Contempt of Court Act (COCA) 2012 and asking the premier to implement the NRO verdict.
The review petition challenging the court’s July 12 order asking Prime Minister Ashraf to comply with the NRO judgment would be taken up on Aug 15 by a five-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa.
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Comments (69) Closed
Aug 13, 2012 09:53am
Rule of law is paramount! Anyone who does not respect rule of law, needs to be sent home!
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Aug 13, 2012 11:21am
This is a matter of justice, not being of 'nice to each other'.
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Aug 13, 2012 10:23am
Everyone is equal before the law we have clear instances of islam and in the lives of four khalif's we have many examples so the statement of AG is fruitless and bucolic, we all should getrid from such a leaders and we should respect the judiciary....
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Aug 13, 2012 12:57pm
Don't think waiting for Allah to straighten out the mess is going to work. People must take responsibility for themselves.
Those who want to impose Sharia are not impressed by politicians who believe they were appointed by God. These men carry guns and rocket launchers and they use them.
They are waiting in the wings to be the saviors of Pakistan.
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Aug 13, 2012 12:51pm
John Mitchell, the attorney general of the United States under the Richard Nixon administration, was sent to federal prison for abusing the laws.
Corruption is like inflation, it only gets worse if it is not stopped. It does not simply go away.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:49am
Whole nation is suffering because of one man's action- Musharraf who issued NRO, a complete pardon for all the crimes including corruption , he did so to save his presidency. AAZ , BB, Nawaz Sharif all took advantage of NRO & came back. All sins forgiven. SC declared it null & void & rightly so. If AAZ is clean, why is n't he ready to face the justice ? If he is immune under the constitution, then why is SC pursuing the case ? Trouble is, if you ask two lawyers a question, they come back with three amswers. Why does n't Asma Jehangir enlighten the whole nation without going into lengthy jargon ?
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Aug 13, 2012 12:58pm
Faisal Reza Abidi has full backing of Mr. Zardari. After listening to his utterences during the past one couple of months, one should not doubt that this is one way of getting back at judiciary by PPP.
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Aug 13, 2012 12:44pm
Is the right to have electricity a right or a freedom?
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Aug 13, 2012 12:45pm
The corruption should be allowed to prosper until the lights go out.
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Aug 13, 2012 11:23am
Read the article by Dr. AQ Khan, he says that this form of democracy which is being enforced on Pakistanis does not work. We either get rid of PPP or bring back Martial Law.
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Aug 13, 2012 10:55am
this means the prime minister can do anything he likes,specially with majority.did he respect the parliament's resolutions?the people elected them to serve people not to rule the people.
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Aug 13, 2012 11:23am
We dont respect any thing in our society. we have been transformed ,brain washed ,where nothing is good or bad. it is an absolute corruption where we can even buy the judges. AG is just a small pawn.
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Aug 13, 2012 01:06pm
Absolutely right.
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Aug 13, 2012 01:30pm
I think our government needs to see what other democratic countries do, or would do, in such cases.
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Aug 13, 2012 10:03am
AG shuld better take up ajob in the presidency and leave the august post of AG for a true professional.
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Aug 13, 2012 10:06am
Sack the PM....sack the AG as well
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Aug 13, 2012 10:04am
PEOPLE SHOULD COMMAND RESPECT AND NO DEMAND RESPECT.
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Aug 13, 2012 10:10am
I am dismayed at the response of ppl on this forum. Incompetent as politicians maybe - they are elected representatives and nothing besides no-confidence momvement should drive the PM out of office. Patience is the key!
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Aug 13, 2012 12:05pm
Why is this SC always in rush to pass judgement on current government. Current government was elected. The only way to make a change would be by next election. SC should act like a judicial institution rather than a political party. Sacking PM again and again has made mockery of justice system in Pakistan when election is only few months away. Parliament is supreme. All decision made my parliament must be respected and judiciary's job is to implement the decisions made in parliament rather than calling it null and void. Parliament members are voted in whereas, judges are posted.
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Aug 13, 2012 10:37am
The Apex Court is there to check and interpret the legality of a law concernig any citizen whtatever his/her position along with the working of the parliament within the bounds of the constitution.
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Aug 13, 2012 08:34am
AG needs to ponder over the term “conflict of Interest,”
Is he the AG of a country or a political party?
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Aug 13, 2012 08:49am
So Gilani did a favor by respecting court? Mr. Attorney General, Come out of your cave and look around the world. Courts are not about respecting or not respecting. It's about fair for all and rule of law. While Parliament can make new laws and amend existing ones, they all have to adhere to our constitution.
When will our Politicians stop thinking that they are from Mars and everyone else is from earth.
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Aug 13, 2012 08:44am
So according to Gilani, the corruption should be allowed to prosper? Of course he has no self respect.
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Aug 13, 2012 11:12am
Respect must be earned by the individual holding the office. It must not be a prerogative that a even criminal holding the office may be entitled to.
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Aug 13, 2012 12:41pm
Azair Baloch has 63 arrest warrants pending against him. He wants to run for parliament.
Pakistan government must draw the line somewhere.
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Aug 13, 2012 12:38pm
This is not a clash between state institutions - these are criminal cases where courts wish to investigate and send law breakers to jail.
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Aug 13, 2012 01:51pm
which world are you living in?_Wait and do nothing. Is that your answer?_Wait for next election to re-elect the same people and repeat the cycle of wait and do nothing._Wake up and resume your duties as honorable people of country, indeed if there is any honor left in us._Try for first time to be honest and do justice. Is there anyone in world above the law? _Answer the question of being just? Are you being just by having different rules for ordinary citizens and for elites?_We are still living in the time of Jahliaya. Same as of people of Quraish.
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Aug 13, 2012 08:51am
He is looking forward to an important appointment in PPP. If he thinks that he will succeed then he needs to be reminded the fate of Babar Awan and Faisal Raza Abidi.
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Aug 13, 2012 08:57am
Not only AG but it is the voice of pakistani people that SC should not behave like that with elected PM ......
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Aug 13, 2012 09:01am
PPP has been failed to defend its corruption case by law & logic also.. So now they are just threatening the court indirectly. They are talking about breaking of country if Raja is dismissed.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:03am
Its time for SC to declare this Government ineffective and call for new elections without creating further deadlock. And Army for the first time in history should do the right thing and standby with the courts.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:06am
AG is the part of corrupt system and will do anything if somebody try to break this corrupt system. law is equal and will treat anyobody equally nothing to do with respect here.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:10am
I Think Prime Minister needs to be respect Nation and Supreme Court.
Swiss Money is Pakistan Peoples Property not Mr. Asif Zardari so prime minister realise.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:11am
Political Party owns (AG) unfortunately .
Every one is answerable in civilized society.
Are we among those in any way ?
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Aug 13, 2012 09:17am
Is SC a political party or a judiciary
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Aug 13, 2012 01:12pm
Masood Baig
Prime Minister is not a sovereign ruler who is not responsible to the court of law. Previous prime ministers defied court of law that created political chaos and instability in the country, invited military rulers, as such they were removed in the best
interest of solidarity and security of the country.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:16am
In Pakistan, we don't understand the concept of 'conflict of interest'. The AG said that the PM is not answerable before any court of law!! Is he god or something that he's not answerable? I wait for the day when these politicians are elected to SERVE us and not control us.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:18am
I thought the AG represents the government. The SC is trying to destabilise the government and so the AG is pleading with them to be reasonable! waste of effort, I am afraid!
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Aug 13, 2012 09:25am
AG should represent the public interest because they are the paymasters. AG should not represent corrupt executives
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Aug 13, 2012 09:31am
Mr. AG and our respected Parlimentarians need to understand, that the people of this country voted them to run the affairs of this country in accordance with the law of the land and in the best interests of the masses. The people of this land also expect them to build institutions and not bulldoze them.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:37am
Judiciary is too politicised to abide by the rule of law.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:38am
Mr. AG should know that it takes two hands to clap.
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Aug 13, 2012 09:38am
And what about the behaviour of elected PM and other elected representatives? Considering their behaviouir, they deserve to be treated like this...
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Aug 13, 2012 02:11pm
Thats the reason why most in the govt don't have any respect.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:24pm
The only way to get rid of corruption and to make Pakistan a true welfare country is to make every 'Square' into 'Tahreer Square'.
Wake up please!!!!!
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Aug 13, 2012 02:27pm
I like your idea, Kashif, but is it going to happen - no way. Good or right things never happen in a failed state like Pakistan.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:32pm
We think we elected the govt to serve the nation but we were wrong they didn't come to eliminate the energy crises, to eliminate the land mafia, the extortion mafia, scams in all major institutions like PSM, PR, PIA and so on. They only came to protect themselves and their own crimes and accomplices thats why they spend 95% of their time and energy on these cases and 5% for the rest of the issues of the country. On top of that they don't want judiciary or anyone else to pick on them as they are the lords above all the rules and regulations of the land. What a pity, first they do the corruption and if someone catches them red handed and bring them to the court they whine that they are being distracted from serving people into these legal cases. Why did you do the corruption in the first place? It is now obvious that PPP govt can never come clean ever. This fact is proven by the two time defection and dissolution of their past govts based on corruption charges.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:36pm
Good questions. The answer to all of them is 'NO
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Aug 13, 2012 02:41pm
Good suggestion, but the only body who can do it is people, but they are corrupt too. Pakistan is a failed state, do not expect much.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:42pm
This will be too much of a stretch of SC authorities. Democracy should be carried forward. If we people have elected these criminals then we are a part of the problem. In order to be a part of the solution we should be patient for five years (one more left) and not take any short cuts for elections or removing govt like dictators have done in the past and the whole country has suffered horribly.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:45pm
You are right, but shoud not people ask this question before they elect them? It is all people's fault.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:46pm
i can"t understand why an illiterate people are not answerable to the court or our judiciary is so week who can"t take action against these criminals no one here in Pakistan can say that i dont know about the crimes they have done than why they are not be treated as criminals Sc why not ask the military to take some actions against them.We have to strengthen our SC other wise Allah Hafiz to the Pakistan.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:48pm
AG is failed to fulfill his duties and did not handle the situation properly as judicial post of the Government.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:49pm
There should not be selective justice it should be for all including cj son
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Aug 13, 2012 02:49pm
Right now it is a luxury to have it 24/7. Further classification into basic need, freedom or whatever will be done once and if ever this problem is resolved so people get it 24/7 uniterrupted.
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Aug 13, 2012 02:54pm
It is judiciary, and is doing its job well.
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Aug 13, 2012 03:10pm
AG is supposed to represent Federation and not the interest of a political party. It is evident that the current AG is not in his senses when he claims that PM is not answerable to any court. Does he think we still live in the age of 16th century rulers?
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Aug 13, 2012 03:17pm
God please help the politicians of Pakistan so that they can work for them.
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Aug 13, 2012 03:59pm
Laws in Pakistan are like electric switch- turn it on when it suits you, turn it off when it doesn't.
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Aug 13, 2012 04:30pm
Very ignorant comment by the AG that the head of the government is not answerable before any court of law. Shame!
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Aug 13, 2012 04:48pm
Why people want to mix politics with legal proceedings?
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Aug 13, 2012 04:59pm
I think judicary has no right to dismiss elected PM because Judiciary has ot apponted PM. Even comtempt of court order matter should go to parliment to dicide. I thinl constitution should be changed accrodingly.
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Aug 13, 2012 05:49pm
The PM should not cover up for the President. If the president is innocent the he "voluntarily" have the Swiss courts release his assets. I guess this will never happen in Pakistan
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Aug 13, 2012 06:13pm
If we talk very simple than peoples' vote is above every thing everywhere in the world no question about it for a particular period. So parliament should be respected. Its legislation should be respected and there is way to amend any law or to undo any law.
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Aug 13, 2012 06:27pm
Even if Government or Prime Minister abuses Court and Judges, AG desires to avert and that too not by Executive but by Court. What a respect for Courts.
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Aug 13, 2012 06:29pm
Unfortunately the PPP is playing a dangerous game. Who else can threaten the stability of the country. If parliamentarians are important and they are above the law. I think we must say good bye to courts. Have a heart Mr AG
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Aug 13, 2012 06:39pm
How proudly he is violating his own oath as a lawyer of not obeying the laws of the Pakistan. This should be capital be punishment . There is NO country in the world that includes Pakistan where head of the Government is above the law. Peoples party has made up its own rules and interpretation.
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Aug 13, 2012 06:44pm
Mr Prime Minister is only a servant of the country and its people.He is not above the law and should have same priviladges as the begger on the street.
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Aug 13, 2012 07:18pm
Mr. Attorney General, you must know that any one who defies the constitution and law is answerable to the court, prime minister or no prime minister!
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