Govt committed to restore deposed judges: Farooq Naek

ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Farooq H. Naek has said that the government is committed to restore the deposed judges and significant steps have already been taken in this regard. The government has 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, the Minister said. He added that in the final phase judges will be reinstated through constitutional means for which the constitutional package has been sent to the coalition partners for their opinion. The Minister made the observations while talking to a 3-member delegation of International Crisis Group, which called on him here Monday, The delegation included Dr. Samina Ahmad, Alain Deletroz and Fabienne Hara. Referring to the recent long march of lawyers, Neak said that the participants of the march were allowed to assembly at the Parade site in the capital. He said that police were strictly told not to confront them rather they were provided space, stage, security, food and water by the government and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).The Minister elaborated that PPP is as much in favor of judges restoration as any other political party or the lawyers.
The difference is only in approach, the Minister said, adding that PPP is against the politicisation of the issue and wants it to be done through the parliament.
The Minister also briefed the delegation about the various legal and constitutional reforms which the coalition government is working on. The Law Ministry is working on draft for setting up National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, he said and added that deliberations are also underway to introduce a bill namely “Protection of Women against Harassment at Work places.”
Number of other legal reforms including setting up of evening courts and public defender’s office are also being worked out. The Minister informed that three separate bills have been introduced in the Nation Assembly and have been referred to the relevant Standing Committee. First bill is ‘The Representation of the people (Amendment) Act, 2008. It provides that no adjournment shall be given by the Tribunal for more than two days and that too on payment of costs as the court may determine. However, if election petition is not decided within a period of four months further adjournment sought by any party shall be given on payment of special cost of rupees ten thousand per adjournment. It is being provided that while adjourning proceedings reasons for this shall be recorded. It is also being provided that appeal should be decided by the Supreme Court within thirty days. 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. Their remuneration is being increased form Rs.1,200 to at least Rs, 5,000 and Rs 10,000 depending upon the paid up capital of the companies. 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. In cases other than murder the accused shall be released on bail if the case is not decided within a year. For females the period is being further reduced.