Islamabad: As lawyers paralysed the
working of courts across the country, Pakistan government has
moved to avert a showdown with the judiciary by initiating
steps to end the row over the apex court striking down
appointments made by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Lawyers organised rallies and protests in Islamabad,
Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and cities across the
country today to protest the judicial appointments made by the
President without consulting Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
The Supreme Court had on Saturday struck down two
judicial appointments made by Zardari that went against the
recommendations of the fiercely independent Chief Justice
The apex court`s move triggered fears that the PPP
and the judiciary could be headed for a showdown that could
destabilise the government.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has launched
efforts to distance himself from the appointments made by
Zardari, with members of his camp telling the media that his
advice on the issue was not considered by the presidency.
Sources said to a news agency that Gilani`s camp had even sent
feelers in this regard to the judiciary.
During a meeting yesterday with Chief Justice
Chaudhry, Attorney General Anwar Mansoor delivered a message
from the premier that the government respected the Supreme
Court`s order quashing the judicial appointments and did not
want any confrontation between institutions, the Dawn
newspaper reported.
Mansoor also reportedly told the Chief Justice that
Gilani was in consultation with the President on the issue and
the government`s point of view will be submitted before the
apex court when the matter is taken up again on February 18.
Gilani too appeared conciliatory, telling reporters
during an interaction near Rawalpindi yesterday that his
government would implement whatever decision is made by the
apex court about the appointment of judges.
He suggested that any government could make a mistake
and said the court`s verdict would be the deciding factor.
In Lahore, judges did not hear most cases at the
request of the local bar association.
Only a handful of urgent cases were heard in the
judges` chambers.
A strike by the lawyers paralysed the working of
courts across the four provinces of Pakistan.
Supreme Court Bar Association president Kazi Anwar
said the strike was called to express solidarity with the
judiciary and to protest the President`s orders.
Following peaceful rallies in Rawalpindi and
Islamabad, lawyers gathered near the Supreme Court and staged
protests outside Parliament and the Prime Minister`s
secretariat.
The lawyers shouted slogans against Zardari and Law
Minister Babar Awan, one of the President`s closest confidants
who is believed to have played a key role in the decision on
the judicial appointments.
The protests were reminiscent of the movement
organised by lawyers after former military ruler Pervez
Musharraf removed Chief Justice Chaudhry in 2007.
The Prime Minister has said the decision on the
judicial appointments was made after consulting constitutional
and legal experts.
"The decisions sometimes hit the mark and sometimes
they go wrong but there is no wrong that has no remedy," he
said.
Legal experts have said the current imbroglio centres
round the interpretation of Article 177 of Pakistan?s
constitution, which states that the apex court Chief Justice
will be appointed by the President and "each of the other
judges shall be appointed by the President after consultation
with the Chief Justice".
Some experts have said that the President has to
consult the Chief Justice but the latter`s advice is not
binding.
PTI
