Judges who violate code of conduct will be held accountable, says Dr Firdous

Says SJC to hear reference on June 14

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said everyone who violates the code of conduct will be held accountable be they politicians, media, judiciary or bureaucracy.

"Accountability is equal for all,” she said on Thursday.

The adviser, who acts as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s de facto information minister, was addressing a press conference together with Adviser to PM on Trade Abdul Razak Dawood.

The press conference took place in the wake of reports that the government with endorsement of the president has sent a reference against a Supreme Court and a Sindh High Court judge.

SJC summons AGP on June 14 in references against two judges

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court judge Qazi Faez Isa wrote a letter to the president seeking clarity regarding reports that he was the SC judge against whom the government had filed a reference, accusing him of misconduct.

"I have come to learn that the government sources are stating that a reference has been filed against me under Article 209 of the Constitution.  I will be obliged if you (the president) could let me know whether this is correct and if it is, then provide me with a copy of the alleged reference," the judge, who is in line to become the chief justice of Pakistan, wrote in the letter.

Dr Firdous said the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will hear a reference filed by the government against two judges of the superior courts on June 14.

“Confidentiality is very important in the SJC’s code of conduct. The law minister will brief the media about the reference filed by the government,” she said while referring to a SJC letter received by the government.

Talking with reference to the opposition parties’ criticism, Dr Firdous said: Those who are advising government to respect judiciary should remember the events that took place during their terms in government, including attack on the Supreme Court, phone calls to judges and giving briefcases [bribes].

Govt files reference against judges allegedly owning properties abroad

She said the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are directly involved in hiding assets and money laundering through fake accounts.

She said the government is not afraid of any political movement led by opposition parties. ”The government is implementing reforms. Prime Minister Imran Khan understands plight of the people and is taking steps to create ease in their lives.”

Adviser to PM on Trade Abdul Razak Dawood said misinformation was being spread about our exports.

“There is a 3 per cent fall in the trade the world over. The trade war between China and United States is also creating recession in the international market. In terms of dollars our exports are equal to that of the last year. There is no increase in it.”

Dawood said our exports have increased by 29 per cent in terms of items while export of yarn has reduced by 15 per cent which means that value added trade is increasing.  He said he has talked to the textile industrialists and they are happy.

“Our direction is right and the capacity has to be increased. Our trade deficit has receded by $4 billion. Our imports have also decreased substantially,” he added. He said the exports will not increase until the government provides the businessman access to the market.

“The Indonesian government has allowed duty on trade of 20 items. We have signed agreement with China for free trade on 313 items. A clause included in the free trade agreement says if our industry is face loss then we can stop import of items from China.”

He said Pakistan has to fix its tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We also need to fix the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). There is a total refund of Rs250 billion. Our rupee was overvalued and deindustrialization took place. Value added export is increasing which means we are in the right direction,” he added.