Restored judges will not take fresh oath: Khosa

18 Mar, 2009

Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa on Tuesday said that restored judges will not take a fresh oath. Addressing media at the Supreme Court, Khosa said that the legal fraternity did play a major role in the movement for restoration of sacked judiciary.
The credit of reinstatement of deposed judges goes to political leadership, legal community and civil society of the country. Khosa said that reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is a historic achievement for supremacy of the Constitution in the country.
He said that Justice Chaudhry believes in supremacy of the Constitution so do we, therefore, the Attorney General office would have a good relationship with the Chief Justice. When asked about judges, who took oath under the PCO, he said that all judges have taken oath under the Constitution and the matter of PCO has been decided by the apex court in Iqbal Tikkas case.
But the apex court has the power to revisit any of its earlier judgements, he added. Talking about the judges who did not take oath under the PCO on November 3, 2007 but later on took a fresh oath, he said their seniority has been kept intact.
When asked about the review petition against disqualification of Sharif brothers from holding any elected office, he said that it would be filed after the release of detailed judgement by the SC. The detailed judgement is likely to be issued today, he added.
The AG also said that the review appeal would be compact and would address disqualification of Sharifs. He said that the government wants to resolve all the issues amicably and restoration of deposed judges is also a step in this direction.
Talking about the appointment of new judges, he said that the proposed constitutional package entails clauses of the Charter of Democracy pertaining to the appointment of new judges. The constitutional package is not an ultimate document, as it would be finalised after deliberations with all political forces of the country.

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