News
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
18th Amend restored real parliamentary system: CJPISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the 18th Amendment had restored the parliamentary system in real sense.
He was heading a 17-member larger bench hearing a set of petitions on certain provisions of the 18th Amendment.
The CJP said the prime minister’s powers had been restored after taking them from the president. However, his role had been minimised in judges’ appointment issue as envisaged under Article 175-A.
Salman Akram Raja, counsel for members of civil society favouring the 18th Amendment, resumed his arguments. He contended that the new mode of appointment of judges was reflective of the global trend. He said even the collegium in India was under stress, including the judiciary.
He also defended the inclusion of parliamentary members in the judicial commission and said they would be there as public representatives.
Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani remarked that the powers had been given to a parliamentary committee that would not be elected by parliamentarians. He said the proposed procedure for judges’ appointment diminished powers of the president, the prime minister and the chief justice. Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday remarked that the judiciary was separated and detached from the executive, but now the latter’s role was being enhanced while in the UK, the executive’s role was minimised in appointment of judges. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk