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AG pleads for more time to reply
ISLAMABAD: The government sought more time to reply to the Supreme Court's explanation regarding government's policy towards notification of restoration of judges, Geo News reported Friday.The Attorney General of Pakistan (AG), Maulvi Anwar ul Haq appeared before the court and said the prime minister was busy in some official engagements in Lahore and could not spare time to write down the policy.
When the bench asked the AG whether he has met the prime minister, the AG replied, 'No'.
The court expressed displeasure and asked what sort of meeting the premier was attending that he even cant spare two minutes.
A 17-judge bench of the Supreme Court today sought a written statement signed not other than by the premier himself about the government's policy regarding notification of restoration of the judges.
Yesterday, a larger bench the Supreme Court of Pakistan including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry held an important meeting here at the Supreme Court late night.
The meeting passed an order, which said that a 17-judge larger bench has been constituted to take up Friday morning reports aired by some TV channels including Geo TV regarding government's alleged intention to withdraw executive order of March 16, 2009 through which Chief Justice of Pakistan and other deposed judges were restored.
Notice had been issued to the Attorney General of Pakistan for hearing.
The order said that the Supreme Court has already settled the matter of the Executive Order and that the Order cannot be withdrawn.
Procedure for appointment and removal of judges is clearly laid down in the Constitution. The procedure for removal of judges is given in Article 209 of the Constitution, it said.
Earlier on Thursday, Geo TV and other channels carried reports that the government is mulling over withdrawing the notification/executive order of judges restoration.
Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani later dispelled the reports, saying the news hold no substance.
Courtesy www.geo.tv