Curative review against Isa may be taken back

Law minister says govt wants to facilitate Musharraf’s return to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD:

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar assured the apex bar councils on Thursday he would take up the matter of withdrawing the government’s curative review appeal against the Senior-Most Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa in the next cabinet meeting.

Addressing a press conference after the inauguration of the Directorate of Legal Education in Islamabad, Tarar said that the government wanted to facilitate former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s return to the country.

The matter of withdrawal of the curative review was raised by the Supreme Court Bar Association President Ahsan Bhoon as well as the Pakistan Bar Council Vice President Hafeezur Rehman Chaudhry.

Tarar said that he would speak to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif about the review appeal. “The matter will also be placed before the cabinet in its next meeting,” he said, adding that the matter of appointing permanent law secretary would also be taken up in the cabinet.

The law minister told reporters that the government wanted to facilitate in the return of former president Pervez Musharraf to Pakistan. Musharraf should come back and face the law,” he said, referring to his conviction.

“If the names of those convicted by the courts are kept in the ECL [Exit Control List], how would they come back?” the law minister asked rhetorically. Musharraf was awarded punishment, he should come back and the court should take up his matter.

Tarar said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had issued a special directive to ensure cooperation with the bar councils. “Bar councils have always played a key role in promoting democracy. The role of lawyers is very important for the rule of law and good governance.”

Earlier, the law minister inaugurated the Directorate of Legal Education in the Supreme Court. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Pakistan Bar Council offices. On this occasion, a briefing was also given to the minister regarding Directorate of Legal Education.

Tarar said that the Supreme Court had ordered establishment of the Legal Education Directorate in 2018. He added that all information regarding law colleges can also be obtained from the directorate.