News
Friday, June 17, 2011
Justice Nisar refuses to head commission
ISLAMABAD: Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, a judge of the Supreme Court whose name has been notified by the government to head a five-member commission to probe the killing of a journalist Saleem Shahzad, on Thursday, refused to lead the commission and said that prior to his deputation as member or head of the commission, approval of chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) was compulsory. According to the sources, Justice Nisar said that the government had not consulted him prior to notifying his name as head of the commission, and he would head the commission only after the approval of CJP. Meanwhile, legal experts contended that there was no need of CJP’s approval before appointing any judge as member of the commission. Renowned lawyer SM Zafar said that in the law, there is no need of CJP approval for the appointment as it was just a tradition to consult the CJP on such appointments. Arif Chaudhry, senior consultant in the Law Ministry, also said that the government had issued notification accordance with law and the government was empowered to constitute a commission under 1956 Inquiry Commission Act. hasnaat malikCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk