Bar urges Zardari to ‘say no’ to JC
LAHORE, March 4: The Lahore High Court Bar Association has urged President Asif Ali Zardari not to implement recommendations of ‘incomplete’ Judicial Commission with respect to the appointments and extensions of judges in the superior courts.
In a meeting held with the president at Bilawal House on Monday, the newly elected cabinet of the LHCBA expressed its serious reservations about the proceedings of the Judicial Commission being held without the attendance of the attorney general, federal law minister and representatives of Pakistan Bar Council and Punjab Bar Council.
“We strongly requested the president not to implement recommendations of the ‘incomplete’ Judicial Commission,” LHCBA President Abid Saqi told Dawn.
He was flanked by Vice-President Ghulam Sarwar Nihang, Secretary Balighuz Zaman Siddiqui and Finance Secretary Usman Sher Gondal. Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek was also present on the occasion.
He said the bar’s representatives drew the attention of the president towards alleged unconstitutional and non-transparent proceedings of the commission. He said the bar also objected to the six-month extension recently given to six additional judges of the LHC. Saqi said the president asked the bar’s cabinet to submit a representation on the matter.
The bar also greeted the president on completion of five-year constitutional term and vowed to always support democratic system in the country.
Mr Saqi said LHCBA invited PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to address the bar which the president accepted. The president announced Rs20 million grant for LHCBA and directed the law minister to do the needful in this regard.