Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan Supreme Court warns against judges sacking

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct 16, IRNA -- The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday warned the government against sacking of top judges and ruled that any such moves would be considered as high treason.

The apex court issued the order after media reported that the government intends to withdraw a last year executive order about the restoration of judges, who had been dismissed by military president Pervez Musharraf.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on 16th March 2009 had restored the sacked judges after opposition leader Nawaz Sharif started long march on Islamabad also intervention by the powerful army chief.

All 17 judges of the Supreme Court gathered late Thursday night after TV channels reported that the government has decided to withdraw the order of the restoration of the judges, which meant to send all judges homes.

The Supreme Court on Friday summoned the Attorney General to ask his opinion about the reports on sacking of the judges.

The Attorney General told the court that the Prime Minister had denied the reports but the Chief Justice asked him to present a denial in the apex court by the Prime Minister with his signature.

The Attorney General, Maulvi Anwar ul Haq, told the court that the Prime Minister is busy in some official engagements in the eastern city of Lahore and could not spare time to write down the policy.

The government failure to present written denial prompted the judges to issue an order, warning the government against any move to withdraw executive order of the restoration of the sacked judges.

The court also restrained all the heads of constitutional organs of the country including the president from withdrawal of the executive order.

The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till October 18 with the instruction that a clear-cut policy statement must be submitted on the day.

A large number of lawyers also rushed to the Supreme Court and announced support for the judges and criticized the government for what they called ?ambiguous’ stand in the whole affair.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30021395