Naseem sworn in as law minister – for third time

ISLAMABAD:

A day after the elevation of Mirza Shahzad Akbar as adviser to the prime minister on accountability and interior, Dr Farogh Naseem rejoined the federal cabinet as law minster for the third time on Friday.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath at a ceremony in Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Senior lawyers are surprised over Shahzad Akbar’s elevation as well as induction of Naseem as the law minister before the issuance of a detailed judgment in the Justice Qazi Faez Isa case.

After quashing of the presidential reference against Justice Isa, there was speculation that Prime Minister Imran Khan would take action against the functionary responsible for filing a weak reference against the judge.

But the prime minister rewarded both Naseem and Akbar after the June 19 short order in the Justice Isa case.

Soon after the short order, the prime minister appointed Akbar as a member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s core committee.

Earlier, Akbar was working as special assistant to the PM on accountability and interior. His post has been upgraded to that of an adviser with the status of federal minister.

Naseem had resigned as federal minister for law ahead of the final hearings of the presidential reference in order to represent the government before a 10-judge full court led by Justice Umar Ata Bandial.

The apex court, while quashing the reference, had ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to start proceedings against the judge’s family under tax law.

During one cabinet meeting, PM Imran appreciated the performance of Naseem in the Justice Isa case.

There are several reasons why Naseem is regarded as a favourite for the post: first, he is a very hard working minister and works at the ministry till late at night; second, he is also in the good books of the ‘powerful circles’. He has a very good relationship with Principal Secretary to the PM Azam Khan, a source disclosed to The Express Tribune.

Naseem, in an interview, has already said that referring the Justice Isa case to the FBR “is a victory of the government”.

One section within the PTI was, however, not in favour of giving the portfolio of law minister to Naseem until the apex court issues its detailed judgment in the Justice Isa case.

The Supreme Court in its June 19 short order did not give any reason for quashing the presidential reference. The short order began with critical words: “For detailed reasons to be recorded later and subject to any orders made or directions given therein (if any).”

Senior lawyer Faisal Siddiqui, in his article, said, “The Supreme Court is not only going to issue detailed reasons explaining the meaning and basis of this short order but will also issue further orders in line with this order.”

He said detailed reasons or further orders and directives might contain the answers to the critics who object to the Supreme Court’s decision of referring the matter to the FBR.

He said the detailed verdict would also tell whether the actions of the ARU regarding judges “are legal”. It might also hold the president, the prime minister or their legal advisers or any other state institution accountable for the reference.

“Therefore, let us be patient and wait for the detailed reasons or other orders before engaging in such premature and misguided doomsday scenarios,” he said.

A cabinet member believes that there will be a strong hidden reason behind the elevation of Akbar as well as induction of Naseem just before the issuance of the judgment.