- Says judiciary had reservations over 21st Amendment
- Says whether responsibility of holding investigation lies with executive or judiciary
- Says two big parties are used to form governments in country and both parties have committed mistakes
ISLAMABAD, April 12: Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has said that whether it is the responsibility of judiciary to form a commission over the panama paper leaks issue. Chief Justice questioned whether responsibility of holding investigation lies with executive or judiciary. He said that the judiciary was being asked to take suo motu notice over the Panama leaks. “Our disabled system has to be run on crutches. The country needs reforms” he said. He said judiciary is criticized and it is said suo motu should be taken and commission should be formed on so and so matter. He said that there is a lot to say but it is better to keep silence, adding that the disband system should continue to work in country. He said there is need of electoral reforms in country. He said it is the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold free, fair and transparent election in country. He said two big parties are used to form governments in country and both parties have committed mistakes.
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that the judiciary had severe reservations over the 21st constitutional amendment but showed immense restraint and patience to protect the integrity of the system instead of taking tough decisions against it.
He was heading a three member bench hearing a petition for elections of mayor and deputy mayor in Sindh through a show of hands.
He said the census was also necessary for maintaining transparency in country, adding that the census was due in 2008 in country but till date this was not carried out. He said until and unless census in not done delimitations could not be corrected. He said elections are held but powers are not transferred to them. He said if show of hands is necessary then why the elections of 2013 were accepted.
He said if PPP had respect for the democratic norms then why it introduced for amendments in local government system. He said if the election through show of hands is so necessary then the election of prime minister should also be held through this system.
Senator Farooq Hameed Naek, the counsel for the government, said that the rule for show of hands was to ensure transparency in the election process. He said that it is evident what happens during secret ballots during Senate election. The Chief Justice remarked that if there were discrepancies in the Senate elections then amendments should be passed to rectify them.
While concluding his remarks, the Chief Justice said that all outstanding issues for the election of the mayor and deputy mayor should be solved by mutual consultation between all parties as now only the issue of self ego remained. He said the issue could be resolved through consultation between the two parties. He said it is unfortunate that the big party always bulldoze the opinion of other parties. The proceedings were deferred till tomorrow (Thursday) when Senator Farrogh Naseem would present the case on behalf of MQM.-Sabah
