26th amendment discussed in CJP-IMF meeting: Tarar

ISLAMABAD: The matter of IMF delegation’s meeting with the chief justice of Pakistan echoed in the Senate Thursday, as Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar revealed in the House that the new scheme under the 26th constitutional amendment also came under discussion.

The minister clarified that the meeting took place in a pleasant environment as the IMF delegation had neither met the chief justice for a judicial case nor the lending agency had filed any CMA.

He was responding to concerns raised by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Kamran Murtaza with reference to the International Monetary Fund team’s meeting with the chief justice.

“IMF delegation met the chief justice and not the judges, as he heads an institution and they had their own agenda, which includes how cases backlog and governance can be improved,” he noted.

The chief justice, he explained, put his initiatives under the Law and Justice Commission before them.

Earlier, on a point of public importance, JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza raised alarm over the meeting, noting that even the members of executive cannot meet head of the judiciary or judges. He insisted it was against the concept of national sovereignty and judicial independence.

Responding to the concerns, Azam Nazeer Tarar said there were certain functions that the chief justice discharges as head of the judiciary. He also referred to an extensive programme of Law and Justice Commission involving legal reforms, rule of law programme and clearance of judicial system’s backlog. He said grants and aids are obtained from multilateral organisations for these programmes through the Economic Affairs Division.

Meanwhile, talking to the media at the Parliament House, the law minister said that the government did not ask to bring a reference against judges, adding that if the time comes for a reference, he will definitely share it. The law minister further said the government has not said anything about the reference either, if such a time comes, it will be known to all.

Leader of the Opposition in the House Syed Shibli Faraz raised the issue of the meeting, pointing out that reports suggest that the IMF delegation also plans to meet the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which he alleged was the most biased and compromised one in the country’s electoral history.

Speaking in the context of the first anniversary of general elections a few days ago, the PTI lawmaker said the commission subverted the Constitution by holding delayed elections.

He said a level playing field was denied to the PTI by ECP, ignoring its constitutional responsibility of holding free and fair elections. He recalled how the iconic poll symbol of the party had been taken away. Shibli claimed those in power have not been given mandate by the people, and they continue to legislate to consolidate their power.

Talking about the recurring migrant boat tragedies claiming the lives of Pakistani youth, Shibli asked as to why Pakistanis in large numbers were leaving the country.

Earlier, in a rare show of solidarity in the House, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Peoples Party fully supported Awami National Party’s bid to hold a public meeting at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.

PMLN parliamentary leader Irfan Siddiqui, PTI’s Shibli Faraz and parliamentary leader of PPP Sherry Rehman backed ANP’s Senator Haji Hidayat Ullah, who rose to complain that they had applied to the Punjab government 15 days ago for the political event, but they were not given permission yet. “We strongly condemn this. If permission is not given to us, we will hold a news conference outside about it,” he said.

He raised the matter on a point of public importance and explained that the ANP wanted to observe death anniversaries of Bacha Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan at Liaquat Bagh on February 14 and was prepared to give any assurance to remain peaceful during the meeting.

In his response, Irfan Siddiqui said: “I shall talk to the CM Punjab after going out from the House and support their demand and also back concerns of the opposition.”

Due to non-availability of ministers, the Question-Hour was not held and all the questions deferred for Friday’s sitting. The related motion was moved in the House by Salim Mandviwalla. At the very outset of the proceedings, the House offered dua for the departed soul of Prince Karim Aga Khan.