Showing posts with label national reconciliation ordinance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label national reconciliation ordinance. Show all posts
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the government a two-week ultimatum to submit a report on steps being taken to re-open corruption cases against the head of state and other politicians.
Pakistani Law Minister Babar Awan (C), flanked by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira (2R) and Ayatullah Durrani, State Minister of Industries and Production (R) and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Water and Power (2L), Minister for Textile Industry, Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed (L), talks to the media after appearing at the Supreme Court in Islamabad on May 25, 2010.
President Asif Ali Zardari is immune from prosecution while in office, but the Supreme Court is piling pressure on the government to reopen and prosecute cases after it scrapped an amnesty shielding politicians last December.
A panel of five judges questioned Law Minister Babar Awan in court, giving him two weeks to submit a “concise” report and adjourning until June 10 its case over the collapse of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“There should be a clear reply as to what steps have been taken in implementing the NRO verdict and whether the government intends to implement the whole order or not,” said Justice Raja Fayyaz.
During the 90-minute hearing, Awan said the government was “meeting day and night” to implement the December 16 verdict.
The five-member panel repeatedly interrupted Awan, asking the law minister about re-opening cases against Zardari in Switzerland and steps being taken to bring back 60 million dollars lying in Swiss banks.
“There is no such amount. This amount is not there. These are only allegations, and wrong and malicious statements,” Awan said, referring to “legal complications” and “grey areas” in approaching the Swiss authorities.
Wearing sunglasses, Awan told reporters after the hearing: “Rumours about a confrontation between the government and the judiciary have died down”.
He said the government “presented its point of view in a respectful manner” and welcomed the court's attitude as “very receptive”, saying the attorney general would represent the government at the next hearing.
Security was tight with police and paramilitary forces deployed outside the building as Awan arrived flanked by around a dozen other cabinet colleagues for the hearing packed with lawyers, former judges and government officials.
A panel of five judges questioned Law Minister Babar Awan in court, giving him two weeks to submit a “concise” report and adjourning until June 10 its case over the collapse of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
“There should be a clear reply as to what steps have been taken in implementing the NRO verdict and whether the government intends to implement the whole order or not,” said Justice Raja Fayyaz.
During the 90-minute hearing, Awan said the government was “meeting day and night” to implement the December 16 verdict.
The five-member panel repeatedly interrupted Awan, asking the law minister about re-opening cases against Zardari in Switzerland and steps being taken to bring back 60 million dollars lying in Swiss banks.
“There is no such amount. This amount is not there. These are only allegations, and wrong and malicious statements,” Awan said, referring to “legal complications” and “grey areas” in approaching the Swiss authorities.
Wearing sunglasses, Awan told reporters after the hearing: “Rumours about a confrontation between the government and the judiciary have died down”.
He said the government “presented its point of view in a respectful manner” and welcomed the court's attitude as “very receptive”, saying the attorney general would represent the government at the next hearing.
Security was tight with police and paramilitary forces deployed outside the building as Awan arrived flanked by around a dozen other cabinet colleagues for the hearing packed with lawyers, former judges and government officials.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of petitions filed against 18th Amendment till May 31. While the hearing of the NRO cases has been adjourned until June 7.
On Tuesday, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk will be informed by federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan about the status of implementation of the apex court’s verdict of revoking the NRO that required re-opening of Swiss cases involving President Asif Ali Zardari.
A 17-member bench presided over by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard petitions challenging the 18th Amendment on Monday.
All eyes turn to Supreme Court this week as it begins hearing important petitions relating to 18th Constitutional Amendment, the striking down of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the implementation of the apex court’s order about Swiss case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has constituted a full court for proceedings on 15 petitions challenging the setting up of a judicial commission under the 18th Amendment for appointment of superior court judges.
The petitioners in this case argue that parliament’s involvement in the appointment of superior court judges will undermine the independence of judiciary.
On Tuesday, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk will be informed by federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan about the status of implementation of the apex court’s verdict of revoking the NRO that required re-opening of Swiss cases involving President Asif Ali Zardari.
Special security arrangements have been made by the Islamabad administration in and around the Supreme Court building.
As speculations are rife about a possible confrontation between the judiciary and executive, the diplomatic community of Islamabad is closely watching the unfolding of events. Talking to Dawn, a senior diplomat of a western country asked if there was any possibility of a face-off between the government and judiciary getting defused before it causes a serious damage to the present set-up.
He said the developments had generated uncertainties because discussions about confrontation were dominating the mainstream media.
Another diplomat wanted to know if the government would submit itself to the apex court or adopt some other course. He said: “It is very unsettling for a country like Pakistan which is already bogged down in a myriad of problems.”
All eyes turn to Supreme Court this week as it begins hearing important petitions relating to 18th Constitutional Amendment, the striking down of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and the implementation of the apex court’s order about Swiss case.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has constituted a full court for proceedings on 15 petitions challenging the setting up of a judicial commission under the 18th Amendment for appointment of superior court judges.
The petitioners in this case argue that parliament’s involvement in the appointment of superior court judges will undermine the independence of judiciary.
On Tuesday, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk will be informed by federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan about the status of implementation of the apex court’s verdict of revoking the NRO that required re-opening of Swiss cases involving President Asif Ali Zardari.
Special security arrangements have been made by the Islamabad administration in and around the Supreme Court building.
As speculations are rife about a possible confrontation between the judiciary and executive, the diplomatic community of Islamabad is closely watching the unfolding of events. Talking to Dawn, a senior diplomat of a western country asked if there was any possibility of a face-off between the government and judiciary getting defused before it causes a serious damage to the present set-up.
He said the developments had generated uncertainties because discussions about confrontation were dominating the mainstream media.
Another diplomat wanted to know if the government would submit itself to the apex court or adopt some other course. He said: “It is very unsettling for a country like Pakistan which is already bogged down in a myriad of problems.”
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