PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has described the Supreme Court’s Thursday verdict as the victory of the federation, the parliament and democracy and said the government will now do legislation under guidance of the judiciary.
“Such legal questions were never raised before. The court has provided guidance for the future,” the PM said in a reference to the apex court’s order with regard to extension in the army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s tenure. “We will do legislation for future under the guidance of judiciary,” he added.
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave the government six months to legislate and iron out the lacunae in the reappointment or extension of tenure of an army chief – paving the way for the incumbent, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, to stay on until a new law determined his terms of service.
A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa, Justice Mian Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, issued the verdict in the high-stake case following the state’s chief law officer submitted an undertaking to the court that parliament would bring in a new law on the matter within six months.
The premier, who was chairing a meeting of government spokesperson, reiterated that the SC’s verdict had been a disappointment for those who “wanted a conflict among national institutions and those who have been plotting against the government for the last 15 months are defeated.”
The government’s legal team briefed the spokespersons about decision of the Supreme Court. The meeting appreciated the positive role of the court in averting a crisis.
On reservations of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s parliamentary party on the legal team, the PM said difference of opinion is beauty of democracy. The legal team played a vital role to satisfy the court. The court’s verdict is a clear evidence of the success of the legal team, he said.
“I am visiting Lahore tomorrow. Major changes are expected in Punjab,” he added.
The PM has also convened a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Dec 11 to consider a ten-point agenda. The CCI will approve final notification of the census results three years after the population census.
The CCI will review implementation on decisions taken in the last two meetings. It will also consider the issue of alleged illegal deductions of taxes by the Federal Board of Revenue in Balochistan and Punjab.
The meeting will also discuss funding of various schemes for health and population welfare. Posting of the Employees Old-age Benefit Institution’s (EOBI) employee to different provinces will also be discussed.
The meeting will decide future of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and primary community schools. The CCI report for the year 2016-17 will be presented in the meeting.
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