ISLAMABAD: Leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq on Monday said the government believed in a transparent procedure for judges’ appointment, “so that nobody could point fingers at the selection process.”
Winding up debate on a motion moved by Senator Farhatullah Babar regarding appointment of superior courts judges, he said a sub-committee was constituted to devise a transparent mechanism for judges' appointment after consulting bar associations and the legal fraternity.
“We don't want strained relations among various institutions. Rather there should be a transparent procedure to select the best and competent contestants for the slots,” he said.
Haq said the sub-committee had met twice with Senator Farooq H Naek in the chair so far and the House would be taken on board once it completed its task.
Clarifying notion regarding any ‘veiled understanding’ with international financial institutions, he said the government did not give any assurance to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or other financial institutions that their all conditions would be accepted after retirement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
“These are mere speculations being spread just to criticize the government,” he added.
Earlier, speaking on the motion, Senator Saeed Ghani said that out of nine members of the judicial commission, around six were judges and there was no political appointee.
He was of the view that the parliamentary committee on judges’ appointment had a very limited role. “Either it should be abolished or a proper mechanism devised to strengthen the committee, he added.
Karim Khawaja said both the National Assembly and Senate should review the procedure for judges’ appointment to establish the parliament's sovereignty.
Zahid Khan suggested that the opposition and the government should join hands to devise some workable strategy in this regard.
He said that the opposition would support the government to try a dictator under Article 6 of the Constitution, “so no one could dare to violate the law in future.”
Haji Muhammad Adeel said the committee was only playing the role of a post office as it had no other option but to accept the recommendations of the judicial commission.
He called for a joint sitting of the parliament to discuss the issue and pass a new act regarding procedure of the judges’ appointment.
Mushahid Hussain Syed said it was a right time to take decision. There was no need of a new act, rather bold decisions should be taken following the Constitution, he added.