Panamagate verdict harbinger of Naya Pakistan: PM

CJP calls for updating laws, increase number of judges

ISLAMABAD: [fbvideo link="https://www.facebook.com/etribune/videos/187920122077810/"]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said the Supreme Court verdict in the Panamagate case laid the foundation of ‘Naya Pakistan’, as the historic judgment upheld the supremacy of law in the country.

Speaking as chief guest at the symposium on population growth in Pakistan titled "Call for Action", the prime minister said rule of law was also the foundation of ‘the Riasat-e-Madina’.

Similarly, the countries with rule of law had gone on to flourish, he added.

“The Supreme Court judges had questioned about the ineffectiveness of institutions in the Panamagate case,” Imran said.

“The main reason why western countries are ahead of us is that rule of law is the cornerstone of their democratic system.”

It is for the first time that a sitting prime minister has been invited by the chief justice of Pakistan to an event organised by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP).

It was attended by superior court judges, chief ministers and several cabinet members.



At the start of his address, the prime minister thanked Chief Justice Saqib Nisar for being invited to the event. He then referred to the July 28, 2017 Supreme Court verdict in the Panamagate case, which disqualified then prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Khan was a petitioner in the case.

He believed that the verdict laid the foundation of ‘Naya Pakistan’ because it maintained rule of law in the country. “The Rule of law was the foundation of Madina state. Likewise, the countries which have supremacy of law have gone on to flourish,” he added.

After the Panamagate verdict, the prime minister continued, the judiciary was making everyone accountable.

“Before that judgment it was unimaginable that the chief executive of the country could be held accountable,” he said.

“Unlike the past, institutions have become autonomous now,” the prime minister said, adding the Capital Development Authority (CDA), which is under the administrative control of his government, was asking him [the prime minister] to regularise his house at Bani Gala.

Imran lamented that in the past dictators tried to become democrats and civilian rulers attempted to become dictators.

He emphasised that rule of law and democracy flourish together in tandem. “The purpose of democracy is to bring rulers under the law.”

He admitted that the current civil and criminal laws were outdated and needed revamping.

The prime minister said religious scholars should join hands with the government in controlling the population growth through community engagement.

“The public must develop a sense of responsibility to control population growth and contraceptive delivery must also improve,” the prime minister added.

Imran warned two major issues – the water crisis and menace of population growth – were not taken seriously by previous governments because they did not plan beyond the five-year mandate given to them.

The previous regimes made policies for a short-term period; therefore, they worked on thermal projects, he said.

However, he was all praise for former military ruler Ayub Khan’s policies of controlling the population and building dams. He also warned that Pakistan stood to be one of the worst affected countries by global warming.

Earlier, the chief justice, in his address to the symposium, urged the prime minister to update laws and increase the number of judges to dispense justice.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar regretted that the alternate dispute resolution mechanism could not be introduced due to non-availability of laws.

He urged lawmakers to enact new legislation, instead of boycotting parliamentary proceedings, so that the judiciary is given tools to dispense justice.

The chief justice stressed that the structure of the country’s judicial system needed to be revamped.

Justice Nisar attributed a surge in the population growth to flawed policies of previous governments. “Countries that controlled population growth have prospered, so we also need to implement measures to control this menace.”

On the occasion, he underscored the need for building new dams. He also stressed the need for promoting education. “Education is the only way to take us forward and we need to look how we can improve ourselves. All developed nations prospered solely because of education,” he said.

The chief justice said all stakeholders – policy-makers, legislators, care providers, civil society activists and religious scholars, should play their role in unison in supporting responsible parenthood behaviours.

Addressing the prime minister, the chief justice said, "Allah blesses us with a virtuous and honest prime minister in the shape of Imran Khan; however, I would like to draw his attention to the old and outdated laws prevailing in the country."

The judiciary was unable to perform its duties for dispensation of justice due to the backward laws, which were made centuries ago, he said, adding, new laws should be made.

Parliament was the supreme institution of the country and it was its duty to legislate, he added.

The chief justice also drew attention of the executive to provide adequate sources to the judiciary to meet the present day challenges.

If required laws and sources were made available to the judiciary, then unexpected results could be achieved for dispensation of justice, he added.

The chief justice also assured the prime minister of the judiciary’s support in achieving the goal of ‘Madina state’. “Judiciary stands with you in this noble cause,” said the chief justice.