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Friday March 29, 2024

SC verdict widely hailed

Politicians, lawyers, businessmen, others believe it will help flush out terrorists

By our correspondents
August 06, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Wednesday termed the decision of the Supreme Court on the 18th and 21st amendments as a moral victory because according to him the apex court had finally admitted that parliament is supreme and the judiciary cannot strike down any amendment passed by it.
“We continued to present our viewpoint before the Supreme Court when Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was the chief justice but I think he was not ready to fully acknowledge the powers of parliament,” said PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira while talking to ‘The News’.
He said that when it came to the powers of parliament, it was a historic decision that wrapped up the debate on the powers of parliament once and for all because in a democracy, parliament is considered as ‘the mother of all institutions’.
Referring to some contents of the today’s decision, he said the decision also underlined the fact that the powers of parliament were not subject to judicial revision as it could carry out legislation and introduce amendments according to needs and requirements.
Kaira said that though they do not like the idea of trying terrorists in military courts because it was basically the duty of the government to strengthen its civilian institutions for this purpose, yet the decision had endorsed their viewpoint and recognised the powers of parliament.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced to accept the Supreme Court (SC) verdict terming it as a victory of parliament as he said that the collective will of the people’s representatives should be of paramount importance.
Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid said that the Supreme Court’s verdict to uphold the parliament’s decision on establishment of military courts would be remembered forever in the constitutional, democratic and political annals of the country.
Talking to the media here outside the Parliament House, he said the verdict was satisfactory for the patriotic people who wanted to see Pakistan a peaceful and prosperous country. Anti-state elements would now be punished through (prompt) judicial process, he added.
Former Khyber Pakthunkhwa governor Barrister Masood Kausar said the Supreme Court verdict on 18th and 21st constitutional amendments would further strengthen democracy and help curb the menace of terrorism in the country.
The apex court verdict would also ensure constitutional rule and independence of the judiciary, he said while talking to the media.Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif applauded the verdict of the Supreme Court on the establishment of military courts and dismissing petitions challenging the 18th and 21st amendments.
Talking to media persons outside the Parliament House, the minister said that the superior judiciary had endorsed the parliament’s decision, which was taken keeping in view the present situation in the country.
The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry hailing the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court said that it would help flush out terrorists from the country besides strengthening the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law and parliament.
President FPCCI Muhammad Adrees said that the entire business community was happy with the epoch making decision of the apex court as specific military courts were established for a limited period of only two years in the country under the Constitution of Pakistan, which will weed out unscrupulous and disgruntled elements directly or indirectly involved in terrorist activities.
The major chunk of leading and distinguished lawyers and constitutional experts said that the landmark verdict of the Supreme Court was a historic decision.Leading constitutional expert and senior Advocate Hafiz Tariq Nasim said, “The Supreme Court judgment was 100 percent accurate as it would steer the country out of perpetual chaos.”