Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that restoration of judges was unconditional and Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry would not take oath afresh. Speaking at a news conference here on Monday, he said the government has not named new chief Justice because it always wanted to restore Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on the retirement of sitting Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.
From the day first, Kaira said the government in line with the commitment of late Benazir Bhutto wanted to reinstate the deposed judges including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry but at the same time it does not want to send the sitting judges home.
The minister urged all the political parties to avoid deadlock in future and resolve all the challenges faced by the country through dialogue. Confrontation is not in the interest of the country and political forces must show maturity and farsightedness in settling their differences.
"PPP led government fulfilled promises made for the reinstatement of judges by the slain Benazir Bhutto and Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari", he opined and brushed aside the impression that the government was forced by external forces to resolve the political imbroglio. He said that the issue of provincial government and governor rule would also be resolved soon while the review petition against the disqualification would be filed as soon the detailed judgement of the apex court disqualifying Sharif brothers is received.
Answering questions, he said the government has made fresh appointments in the courts in line with the existing law and principles laid down in the Charter of Democracy (CoD) regarding appointments of judges could only be implemented after proper legislation. As long as new legislation is not done in line with the CoD all the decision regarding appointments of judges would have to be taken under the existing law.
The minister claimed that the government has also offered setting up of a judicial commission to overhaul the whole judicial system. From now onwards, he said the responsibility of judiciary, parliament and administration has been increased manifold and all the stakeholders should work for the betterment of the country by following the constitutionally defined mandate.
All the forces that matter should strengthen the hands of the government to meet the challenges of economy, terrorism and poverty and give a new ray of hope to the nation. The minister lauded the role of political parties and lawyers for the restoration of judges and taking it to its logical conclusion.
He said that PPP was also harbinger of independent judiciary and rendered sacrifices more than any other party for the cause in this movement as well. He hoped that all the stakeholders would bury the past and would move forward in unity to bring the country out of prevailing problems.
Kaira said that all stakeholders were consulted and taken on board before taking the decision of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary as Chief Justice of Pakistan. He hoped that the Chief Justice role would be impartial. The minister did not rule out a meeting between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari and the Sharif brothers, which he said, might be possible in near future.
He reiterated that the PPP government believes in free media and freedom of expression and has no intention to impose any kind of curb on media. We will always extend full co-operation to the media but would draw a code of conduct and adhere to it like other institutions of the state. The minister dismissed that there was any rift in the party.
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