26th Amendment brings transparency to judicial appointments: governor

LAHORE: Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that the passage of the 26th constitutional amendment by the Parliament bodes well for the institutions as it will ensure the supremacy of the Parliament.

Addressing a press conference at the Governor House on Tuesday, he said the constitutional amendment would provide quick justice to people.

It was passed after much hard work and struggle, in which all political parties including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Chairman PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUIF Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman played a positive role. Saleem Haider said that the judiciary should not interfere in the affairs of the executive.

He added that the weaknesses in the procedure for appointing judges in the Nineteenth Amendment have now been rectified. The democratic powers were sabotaged in the 19th Amendment, and unfortunately, the decisions of the appointments of judges were made in big chambers.

Later these judges gave decisions according to their likes and dislikes.However now in the 26th Constitutional Amendment, a transparent procedure for their appointment has been devised.

Governor Punjab said, the age of judges has been reduced from 45 to 40, which will allow young lawyers to become judges. In response to a question, Sardar Saleem Haider said that the delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf held many advisory meetings with Maulana Fazlur Rahman.

However, afterwards, when the PTI delegation went to Adiala Jail, it backed out of the Parliamentary Committee as per the directions from there. Governor Punjab said that Maulana Sahib agreed on all points up to 80pc, but there was a little deadlock for which he asked he sought time to consult with his party leaders.

Later, after meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, all issues were settled. Earlier, a delegation of the Karachi Goods Carrier Association met with Governor Punjab and briefed him on the problems faced by them.

President of the Karachi Goods Carrier Association, Malik Sher Khan Awan, sought a mechanism to stop the seizure of the containers and compensate the transporters.

He also demanded the withdrawal of an increase in toll tax. The Governor Punjab assured the delegation of conveying their problems to the relevant authorities.