Govt welcomes CJP Khosa’s proposal for institutional dialogue

Information minister, however, sees no need to involve opposition parties in dialogue

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has welcomed newly-appointed Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa’s proposal to initiate inter-institutional dialogue.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry while talking to The Express Tribune said there is dire need of dialogue among civilian government, judiciary and army for maintaining good governance and enforcing policy.

He said the government is planning a grand housing scheme in the country but is facing difficulty due to the court’s stay orders in thousands of acres land. Therefore, it needs the support of judiciary.

However, Fawad believes, “there is no need to involve opposition parliamentary parties in dialogue proposed by CJP Khosa.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani while talking to a private TV channel has also welcomed the top judge’s recommendation. He said unfortunately, trichotomy of power has been badly violated and parliament’s supremacy undermined.



However, he objected to the proposed summit to be held at the Presidency, which has been controversial in the past, adding parliament should be the forum to convene such dialogue.

On the other hand, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Kamran Murtaza said the Constitution does not allow such summit to be proposed by the chief justice.  Likewise, senior lawyer Khalid Anwar believes inter institution dialogue is a good step but there may be apprehensions in the legal fraternity that such move may compromise independence of judiciary.

The legal experts however unanimously believe there is need to start the process of national reconciliation.

Earlier, Justice Khosa in his speech said let us call a spade a spade, rise to the occasion and try to emulate our founding fathers in an effort to rebuild our nation on the foundations of freedom envisioned by our revered elders.



“I would, therefore, with the approval and support of my colleagues, propose holding of an inter-institutional dialogue at the summit level and would request the worthy President of Pakistan to convene a meeting and to chair the deliberations,” he said.

He proposed the top parliamentary, judicial and executive leadership including the military and the intelligence agencies to attend this summit.

“After bringing all such major stakeholders in the national governance on one table under the patronage of the President an effort should be made through such proposed exercise to heal the wounds of the past, attend to the sore points and work out a practicable policy framework whereunder every organ and institution of the State exercises its powers and performs its functions within its constitutionally defined limits,” he said adding the sole purpose of the proposed exercise should be to bolster constitutionalism and rule of law, strengthen democracy and create an environment wherein the State and all its organs and institutions may be able to devote their wholehearted attention to the real issues of the citizens of this great country and, as envisaged in the Preamble to our Constitution.