Judiciary to strengthen democratic system: CJP: Govt accepts CJP’s demands

[Interceptor]

Judiciary to strengthen democratic system: CJP: Govt accepts CJP’s demands

* Justice Nisar, Justice Khosa elevated to SC, Ramday appointed ad hoc SC judge
* 22 judges appointed to LHC, nine to SHC

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday accepted recommendations by the chief justice “in the best national interests”, elevating Justice Saqib Nisar and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa as judges of the Supreme Court and appointing Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday an ad hoc SC judge, while Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif would continue serving as the Lahore High Court chief justice.

Confirming the appointments, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said President Asif Ali Zardari signed the summary of the appointments last night. Earlier in the day – following negotiations with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry that lasted for more than three hours at the Prime Minister’s House, Yousaf Raza Gilani announced the withdrawal of the presidential orders of February 13 and the issuance of a new notification.

According to a press release, the prime minister and the chief justice agreed that the consultative process among the pillars of state should be constructive and meaningful. The APP news agency quoted the chief justice as saying that the judiciary would continue to play its role in strengthening the democratic system.

Addressing reporters after the meeting with the chief justice and later speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Gilani said the new notification would supersede the orders of February 13. He said the government had not only accepted the chief justice’s recommendation on the appointment of Justice Nisar to the Supreme Court, it had also appointed Justice (r) Khalilul Rehman Ramday an ad hoc SC judge for a year. He said the process for the elevation of judges in the Lahore High Court and the Sindh High Court had been finalised, and the appointments would be made after completing procedural requirements.

Gilani said the outcome of his meeting with the chief justice was in the best interests of the nation and would bring more stability to the system. He said the meeting was “part of the consultative process for the appointments in the superior judiciary, which has to be participatory, and consensus-oriented”.

Asked if the latest decision was made after taking Zardari into confidence, Gilani said, “The president and I belong to the same party. We [work in] ... harmony on all issues.”

Replying to another question, he said institutions in the country were at an “evolving stage”, and there was judicial as well as media activism.

The prime minister said, “The government holds the judiciary in high esteem and shall implement all decisions of the higher judiciary in letter and spirit.” Asked if the meeting with the chief justice would have an impact on the SC’s decision on the NRO, he said the court’s verdict would be fully implemented. About the court’s verdict on the appointment of NAB chairman, Gilani said, “Leave the decision about NAB to the government.” According to the presidential spokesman, President Zardari – on the advice of the prime minister – on Wednesday also appointed 22 additional Judges to the Lahore High Court and 9 additional judges to the Sindh High Court.

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