‘Beautiful thing about 26th Amendment is accountability of judiciary’

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law & Justice Azam Nazir Tarar said on Saturday that the beautiful thing about the 26th constitutional amendment is the accountability of the judiciary.

Tarar said that this is not a royal court but constitutional courts, so if anybody cannot hear cases, they should go back home. He said that it is incorrect to suggest that judges from other provinces cannot be appointed to the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

He remarked that judges from Balochistan and Sindh have come to the IHC, which has brought more colour to the high court. “More good news will come in the coming days.”

The law minister said he had not received backdoor support from any bar association. “I believe that the government should not interfere in the affairs of any bar.”

Addressing the IHC Bar Association during his visit, he said the government’s agreement with lawyers would never be compromised.

He said the Judicial Council was not his idea, adding that the government runs the system with the money of tax-paying citizens. He also said that the 250 million people of Pakistan want their cases to be decided on merit.

He pointed out the prevalence of filing false FIRs in the country. “If an accused is released after three or four years due to the wrongdoing of police, who will account for it? The imprisonment of any individual causes damage to his home. There should also be control over false FIRs.”

Tarar stressed that lawyers play their role for the welfare of the people and society. “Now is the time to make laws that will benefit the common people.” He said that the 1973 constitution is accepted by all the political parties, as well as the entire nation.

He also said that the chief justice of Pakistan would make a decision about the transfer of judges, after which the prime minister would look into it. Later, with the signature of the president, judges from other provinces will be appointed to the federation, he added.

Tarar said it is not at all correct to say that judges from other provinces cannot be appointed to Islamabad. “Whenever a lawyer friend comes to meet me, I definitely meet him.”

He said that the lawyers’ mega centre project is of the utmost importance. “Our goal is to serve the people of Pakistan. We will continue to serve the country and the nation with more perseverance in the coming times.”