'Deposed judges may be reinstated through 18th amendment'

Renowned legal expert and former vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has said that deposed judges may be reinstated through the 18th amendment in the Constitution. It is the only way to reinstate the sacked judges, and it will be up to the Parliament to approve or reject such amendment, he added. He said that Judges couldn't be reinstated through executive order.
Talking to this scribe here on Saturday former Vice Chairman of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) said: "the sacked judges could only be reinstated through the constitutional package". He said the government was committed to reinstate the sacked judges and it had taken several steps to address the issue. Pointing to the PPP government's commitment to reinstating the sacked judges, he said ending the judges' detentions, repaying their back date salaries, and increasing the number of Supreme Court judges were all steps undertaken by the PPP-led government.
He said the coalition partners had been provided with copies of the proposed constitutional package for their suggestions but no suggestions had been given as yet. He said the government had also taken several steps for the betterment of the country's judiciary, adding that the lawyers would be given representation through the 'Access to Justice Programme' to make the system transparent and provide speedy justice.
He said the government would withdraw all politically motivated cases registered against lawyers during their campaign for the restoration of the sacked judiciary. He also announced Rs 50 million grant for the PBC. He said a plot would be allotted to the PBC for an office, adding that lawyers and their families would also received access to an auditorium, a hostel and free treatment in government-run hospitals.