Fawad urges parliament to consider amendments for SC appointments

The minister lauds outgoing CJP Justice Gulzar for taking 'historic stance' on minorities' worship places

ISLAMABAD:

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Monday urged the parliament to consider a constitutional amendment for the appointment of Supreme Court judges.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the minister said that in light of the fact that five judges will be retiring from the apex court this year, the parliament should consider a constitutional amendment.

اس سال سپریم کورٹ میں پانچ جج صاحبان ریٹائر ہو رہے ہیں پارلیمان کو نئے ججز کی تعیناتی کیلئےآئینی ترمیم پر غور کرنا چاہئےاگر پارلیمان سپریم کورٹ میں تعیناتیوں کو آزادانہ اور شفاف بناتی ہےتو یہ بہت بڑا کام ہو گا سیاسی جماعتیں اپنےاختلافات کو پس پشت ڈال کر اس اہم ترمیم کیلئے سرجوڑیں

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 31, 2022

"It would be a huge undertaking if [the] parliament ensured that appointments to the Supreme Court are free and transparent,” he said, adding that political parties should set aside their difference and work on this amendment.

Read: "Ayesha Malik sworn in as first woman SC judge"

Fawad also praised the outgoing chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed for his “historic stand” on minorities’ worship places.

"At a time when India's judiciary seems helpless at the hands of extremists, judges like Justice Gulzar supported minorities and ruled independently,” he added.

CJPجسٹس گلزار آج ریٹائرُہو رہے ہیں انھوں نے اقلیتوں کی عبادت گاہوں کو لے کر جو تاریخی سٹینڈ لیا اس سے ان کی عزت و تکریم میں بہت اضافہ ہوا، ایسے وقت میں جب ہندوستان کی عدلیہ شدت پسندوں کے ہاتھوں بے بس نظر آتی ہے جسٹس گلزار جیسے ججز نے اقلیتوں کو سہارا دیا اور آزادانہ فیصلے دئیے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) January 31, 2022

Justice Gulzar is retiring on Tuesday (tomorrow) by leaving behind the legacy of an anti-encroachment drive in the biggest city of the country, Karachi.

He had taken oath as the country’s top judge in December 2019. His tenure was adversely affected on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial will take over as the chief justice on February 2.