News
Friday, July 29, 2011
Restoration of Establishment Division secretarySC gives government one more day
* Court directs attorney general to submit prime minister’s written reaction today
* CJP says court is well aware of its constitutional limitations
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the prime minister’s request for more time to submit a reply over reinstatement of Sohail Ahmad as the Establishment secretary and directed Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Maulvi Anwarul Haq to present prime minister’s written reaction on the matter today (Friday).
A six-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the suo motu case regarding the Hajj corruption scandal.
During the proceeding, the AGP informed the bench that he met with the prime minister and explained to him the contents of the court’s July 27 order as well as the intrinsic constitutional and other legal provisions.
The AGP said that the PM had requested for time until Monday for submitting his response. But the bench stated it was not possible to constitute a larger bench continuously for weeks because judges had to branch registries for taking up general public cases.
The chief justice said, “We don’t doubt the good intention of the government but dilly-dally on the issue is not good omen.” The CJP said there was no problem for the bench to pass an order. But the attorney general remarked that the prime minister was not thinking on that lines which the court construed.
“We are well aware of our constitutional limitations, but when employees are sacked they approach the court for justice,” he said, adding that the case is not about a bureaucrat, but of the rule of law and upholding the constitution.
He said it was a settled law that after the apex court ruling there was no need of permission from the competent authority. When someone decides that he has to follow the constitution then implementation of the order is just one-minute delay.
Earlier, the AGP appeared along with the FIA director general and submitted the report. The report revealed that the FIA director general did not succeed in establishing contact with Hussain Asghar despite repeated attempts. However, he assured the court that no sooner he reported to the FIA Headquarters in Islamabad, investigation of the Hajj scandal would be handed over to him and the investigation team previously working with him would be restored. The FIA chief also said that Asghar would be facilitated in all manners to carryout the investigation of the Hajj scandal.
The court adjourned the hearing until today (Friday).
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk