Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek said on Monday that the government is committed to restoring the deposed judges and has already taken significant steps in this regard. He stated this while talking to a three-member delegation of the International Crisis Group (ICG), who called on him here on Monday.
The delegation comprising Dr Samina Ahmad, Alain Deletroz and Ms Fabienne Hara. He said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had ordered the release of deposed judges the day he took oath. Afterwards, the government paid salaries to the deposed judges and now the strength of Supreme Court judges is being raised to 29 for which the bill has been moved along with the Finance Bill. To pave the way for restoration of deposed judges in the final phase, constitutional package has been sent to the coalition partners for their opinion.
Talking about the recent long march of the lawyers, Naek said that the participants of the march were allowed to gather in front of Parliament House and police was strictly told not to confront rather they were provided space, stage, security, food and water by the government and Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
The minister said that the PPP is as much in favour of judges' restoration as any other political party or the lawyers. The difference is only in approach as the party is against the politicisation of the issue, he added. He also informed the delegation that three separate bills have been introduced in the National Assembly, which has also been referred to the relevant standing committee.
First bill is 'The Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2008. The second bill is 'The Companies (Appointment of Legal Advisors) (Amendment) Act, 2008. It proposes that lawyers with 5 years of experience will be eligible for appointment as Legal Advisors. The third bill is 'The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008. It provides that in murder cases if the case is not decided within two years the accused shall be released on bail.
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