The petitioner had called for barring the former president from heading his party. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The top federal government ruling functionaries on Tuesday skipped outlining a policy to initiate actions against former army chief Gen (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg and former Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lieutenant General (retd) Asad Durrani as ordered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The federal cabinet also failed to grant approval for the composition of a special court in treason trial as proposed by the top court.
The cabinet met under the chair of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to discuss a host of administrative, legal and relevant issues.
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It is expected to meet again on Thursday, the last day of the federal government’s tenure but whether any approval in the relevant matters against three retired generals would be granted is not clear.
Tuesday’s huddle skipped devising any plan of action against the two retired generals in spite of the fact that the federal government had assured the court a few days ago to map out a detailed plan to proceed against Beg and Durrani in the Asghar Khan case.
On May 8, the Supreme Court gave the federal government a week to outline actions against Beg and Durrani in view of the top court’s landmark verdict in the Asghar Khan case in 2012.
A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar had sought a reply from the federal government regarding the implementation of its 2012 verdict, which may also have implications for deposed premier Nawaz Sharif.
“The government should decide how it will proceed against the two officers,” observed the bench. It also asked why high treason proceedings under Article 6 of the constitution could not be initiated against them.
Declining Attorney General Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf’s request, seeking two weeks for the government to outline a procedure, the apex court noted that the federal government’s tenure was ending on May 31; therefore, a special meeting of the cabinet could be summoned to decide on the matter.
However, since then, the successive cabinet meetings failed to discuss the matter as ordered by the top court.
The huddle also skipped reviewing the composition of Special Court to try Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason.
On April 7, CJP Mian Saqib Nisar proposed fresh composition of the special bench, led by Lahore High Court Chief Justice Yawar Ali, but the federal government has yet to issue a formal notification.
The chief justice also proposed the names of a Sindh High Court judge, Justice Nazar Akbar and Justice Tahira Safdar of the Balochistan High Court.
The chief justice suggested the new composition after Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Yahya Afridi recused himself from hearing the case on March 29.
Meanwhile, the cabinet approved reconstitution of the 8th Wage Board for Newspaper Employees by appointing two additional members on the board. A proposal for reconstitution of the board for Board of Investment was also approved.
The meeting approved the name of Mujeeb Ahmed Khan for the appointment as the Chairman, Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO).
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Appointment of four members on the Board of Governors of Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan was also approved.
The meeting approved expansion and appointments to the Board of Governors of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF).
The federal cabinet approved issuance of Charter License, Class-II (Domestic) to K-2 Airways (Private) Limited.
The cabinet also gave its assent to the National Internal Security Policy 2018-2023, National Transport Policy of Pakistan, 2018, National Films Policy and National Culture Policy
Appointment of MD NESPAK and the Board of Directors of National Security Printing Corporation of Pakistan was approved by the Cabinet. Appointment of DG Civil Aviation Authority on acting charge basis was also approved.
Amendment in the rules of Acceding States (Abolition of Privy Purses and Privileges) Order, 1972 (President’s Order No. 15 of 1972)- Enhancement of Maintenance Allowance was approved.
The federal cabinet also approved Cancer Control Programme formulated by Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination.
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