Opposition in Senate has offered help to the government on the restoration of sacked judges, but demanded of the PPP to bring in a separate 'miniature constitutional package' that specifically deals with judges' issue.
This was stated by PML (Q) senator and senior lawyer S.M. Zafar in Senate on Monday. He said the opposition would support the restoration of deposed judges if the government amends the number of Supreme Court judges in the Judges Act 1997.
"I request that the government should mainly focus on the judges' issue. Let us bring in a miniature package to resolve the judicial crisis," he urged as the PML-Q senator also called for ending political role of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) from the country's politics. He demanded of the government to set nuclear architect Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan free.
He said that number of Supreme Court judges should be amended in the Judges Act 1997. Commenting on the legal fraternity' long march, Zafar said the morality of the situation demands that more than 50 judges who were deposed by President Musharraf should all be restored.
He said:"Let's have the Supreme Court consisting of deposed and present judges," he suggested. Zafar, who is heading the PML-Q committee to look into PPP proposed constitutional package, said a huge package, has been drafted by the ruling coalition.
Zafar proposed the government should pass a resolution that the number of SC judges will once be 29 but this number would be brought down to the present strength of 17 gradually when the judges keep on retiring. "The issue of judiciary should be resolved now," he stressed. Meanwhile, the treasury and opposition benches exchanged hot words on some personal remarks from the two sides.
The rumpus interrupted the house proceedings for a short while. Lawmakers from the ruling Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam exchanged hot words with opposition members during the speech of Leader of the Opposition on a self-explanatory statement.
The ruling lawmakers Ilyas Bilour, Haji Muhammad Adeel, Kamran Murtaza and a few others strongly criticised the previous government over worsening economic situation, wheat export/import, flour and power crises. They alleged the leadership of the former ruling party was making money out of wheat, stock exchange and privatisation process.
Leader of the Opposition Senator Kamil Ali Agha sought the floor for self-explanatory statement for being named in the scams mentioned by treasury members. In his speech, Kamil congratulated ANP members for joining the mainstream politics due to the fact their founding party leader refused to be buried in the Pakistan.
He referred to the will of Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan known as Bacha Khan who was buried in Jalalabad (Afghanistan) due to his alleged hatred towards Pakistan. This provoked Ilyas Billour, Haji Adeel and Kamran Murtaza who stood up on their seats and began criticising Kamil Ali Agha over his remarks about their leader. Jamal Khan Leghari and Abdul Rahim Mandokhel along with few other opposition members also stood up in support of Kamil Ali Agha. Jamal Leghari challenged the treasury members to prove Leghari family disloyalty to Pakistan.