Criticise judgement, not judges: Senate panel
PHOTO: FILE
The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Wednesday deliberated ways to discourage and curb attacks on judges for their judgements, expressing its resolve to ensure the judiciary was spared the criticism to ensure rule of law.
Senator Ali Zafar, chairing the standing committee, said it was the mandate of the panel to ensure that the rule of law was implemented in letter and spirit, adding it could only thrive if due dignity and respect was accorded to institutions such as the judiciary.
While maintaining that one was entitled to criticise or debate the judgements delivered by the judges, Zafar however deplored the practice of criticising the judges themselves. He added he knew for a fact that judges welcome the criticism and debate their judgements are subjected to.
“However, criticising the judge on the basis of disagreement with the judgement must be stopped,” he said, noting the need for the law and justice committee to enact laws and come up with suggestions to nip the “growing tendency to discredit the judges” in the bud.
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Senator Zafar pointed out that since the judges could not come out of their chambers to defend themselves, it was incumbent upon the committee to come to the fore for their defence.
‘Goes both ways’
However, at the same time, Senator Ali Zafar underscored that it was also the prerogative of the committee to ensure all institutions remained within their constitutional domain, adding that the courts were similarly bound by the law to restrain from interfering in parliamentary business.
Meanwhile, in the same vein, committee members requested the chairman of the committee to hold a debate on various constitutional crises that erupted in the country in the wake of the recent political turmoil.
At this, Senator Zafar maintained that such a debate was necessary “but must be meaningful so that a future course of action can be laid out”.
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He said that all sides were pointing fingers at each other for alleged constitutional violations and therefore, the agenda for the debate must be drawn up in a systematic, logical and considered manner so that the purpose of the debate is achieved.
The chairman said that he will draft the agenda of the meeting accordingly.
The need for the debate arose when Senator Raza Rabbani in a letter addressed to the chairman requested that in light of the constitutional crisis his proposal for an amendment to the Constitution may be withdrawn.
Senator Kakar pointed out that the current government was appointing people who were acting against the interests of the country to constitutional posts which must be checked.
Senator Zafar assured that this will also be included in the agenda for discussion.
The constitutional amendment by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, relating to the omission of alcoholic consumption for religious purposes, was deferred for debate after receiving comments from the Ministry of Law.