SC serves contempt notices on 60 high court judges
Thursday, October 8, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday served contempt of court notices on 60 high court judges belonging to Lahore, Peshawar and Sindh High Courts who violated the apex court’s order of November 3, 2007, restraining the judges of the higher judiciary from taking oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), promulgated by former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
Those judges who received contempt of court notices, included 26 judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC), 20 judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and 14 judges of the Peshawar High Court (PHC). Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry, former chief justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC), is also in the list.
Labels: Judiciary, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 10:31 AM,
,
NRO stands invalid since February 5, 2008
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The apex court did not agree with the perception that the benefits drawn from the NRO are past and closed transactions.It instead judged: “Under Article 89 of the Constitution, an ordinance issued by the president if not so laid before the National Assembly, or both Houses of Parliament, stands repealed on expiration of four months from its promulgation.”
Under this judgment, the NRO stands invalid since February 5, 2008, when it completed its 120-day constitutional life. The NRO was enforced on Oct 6, 2007, and within 120 days had to be passed by parliament as a bill or re-issued as an ordinance, which it was not.
Labels: Judiciary, NRO, Parliament, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Zardari
posted @ 5:08 PM,
,
SC upholds LHC decision on sugar price
Thursday, September 17, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decision of Lahore High Court fixing the sugar price at Rs40 per kg and directed the sugar mill owners to implement the LHC verdict till the decision of the apex court.
It also warned the sugar mill owners of contempt of court proceedings if they failed to implement the court’s order.The court also directed the chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present before the court its two-year-old report about the sugar crisis besides directing the State Bank to furnish details of loans provided to the mill owners with the mode of their return.
more
It also warned the sugar mill owners of contempt of court proceedings if they failed to implement the court’s order.The court also directed the chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to present before the court its two-year-old report about the sugar crisis besides directing the State Bank to furnish details of loans provided to the mill owners with the mode of their return.
more
Labels: Judiciary, Price Hike, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 5:41 PM,
,
Zardari approves 76 judges to go home
Monday, August 3, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Monday, August 03, 2009
ISLAMABAD: As many as 76 judges of the Supreme Court and high courts would cease to hold their offices immediately as approved by President Zardari late Sunday night.
An official handout says: In pursuance of the judgment of the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 31st July 2009, in constitutional petitions No 9 and 8 of 2009 (Sindh High Court Bar Association and Mr Nadeem Ahmed, Advocate vs Federation of Pakistan), the president is pleased to approve that the following judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Courts shall cease to hold their offices with immediate effect:
More
ISLAMABAD: As many as 76 judges of the Supreme Court and high courts would cease to hold their offices immediately as approved by President Zardari late Sunday night.
An official handout says: In pursuance of the judgment of the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 31st July 2009, in constitutional petitions No 9 and 8 of 2009 (Sindh High Court Bar Association and Mr Nadeem Ahmed, Advocate vs Federation of Pakistan), the president is pleased to approve that the following judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Courts shall cease to hold their offices with immediate effect:
More
Labels: Government, Judiciary, Law, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 8:48 AM,
,
Landmark SC Verdict
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dawn, Pakistan, Saturday, 01 Aug, 2009
• All Dogar actions, except presidential oath, declared illegal • IHC ceases to exist • Verdict leaves Musharraf unscathed • Govt asked to refer NRO to parliament
ISLAMABAD, July 31: In what has been billed as a verdict that may change the course of the country’s political and judicial history, the Supreme Court on Friday denounced successive military takeovers over the past four decades and their endorsement by the superior judiciary and then went ahead to declare Gen Pervez Musharraf’s Emergency Order of Nov 3, 2007, and most of the actions taken under it, including the appointment of over 100 superior court judges, as illegal and unconstitutional.
More
• All Dogar actions, except presidential oath, declared illegal • IHC ceases to exist • Verdict leaves Musharraf unscathed • Govt asked to refer NRO to parliament
ISLAMABAD, July 31: In what has been billed as a verdict that may change the course of the country’s political and judicial history, the Supreme Court on Friday denounced successive military takeovers over the past four decades and their endorsement by the superior judiciary and then went ahead to declare Gen Pervez Musharraf’s Emergency Order of Nov 3, 2007, and most of the actions taken under it, including the appointment of over 100 superior court judges, as illegal and unconstitutional.
More
Labels: Governance, Judiciary, Laws, Politics, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:44 AM,
,
110 judges of superior courts to go home
Dawn, Pakistan, Saturday, August 01, 2009
ISLAMABAD, July 31: At least 110 judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and high courts will retire or revert to their respective institutions after the landmark judgment of the apex court in the judges’ case.
The judgment will affect 15 judges of the Supreme Court, 41 of the Lahore High Court, 27 of the Sindh High Court, 10 from the Peshawar High Court, all five of the Balochistan High Court and eight of the Islamabad High Court and four from the Federal Shariat Court.
More
ISLAMABAD, July 31: At least 110 judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and high courts will retire or revert to their respective institutions after the landmark judgment of the apex court in the judges’ case.
The judgment will affect 15 judges of the Supreme Court, 41 of the Lahore High Court, 27 of the Sindh High Court, 10 from the Peshawar High Court, all five of the Balochistan High Court and eight of the Islamabad High Court and four from the Federal Shariat Court.
More
Labels: 03 Nov'07 Emergency, Governance, Judiciary, Law, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:40 AM,
,
03 Nov '07 emergency declared “unconstitutional”
The News International, Pakistan, Saturday, August 01, 2009
WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has, as expected, set the stage for far-reaching judicial, legal and political changes in the country with its landmark judgment on Friday night in the PCO judges case.
Some parts of the judgment are clear and categorical and an attempt has been made not to rock the boat and destabilise the present set-up but the window for selective decisions later has been kept wide open.
For instance while President Zardari’s oath given by Chief Justice Dogar has been accepted as valid, because that would have caused a sudden collapse of the system, the whole career of Justice Dogar during the Nov 3 emergency has been invalidated. This could be described as a political balancing act of a very dangerous kind.
More
WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has, as expected, set the stage for far-reaching judicial, legal and political changes in the country with its landmark judgment on Friday night in the PCO judges case.
Some parts of the judgment are clear and categorical and an attempt has been made not to rock the boat and destabilise the present set-up but the window for selective decisions later has been kept wide open.
For instance while President Zardari’s oath given by Chief Justice Dogar has been accepted as valid, because that would have caused a sudden collapse of the system, the whole career of Justice Dogar during the Nov 3 emergency has been invalidated. This could be described as a political balancing act of a very dangerous kind.
More
Labels: Governance, Law, Politics, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:27 AM,
,
Prosecution of Musharraf
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dawn, Pakistan, Thursday, 30 Jul, 2009
REMEMBER them, anyone? What happened to the puppies he sported in the first weeks in power? Given our sudden desire for punishing Musharraf, he could now also be accused of first using them to offend the faithful and then abandoning them to their fate as he made off to London. Animal rights activists of civil society, please step forward.
The cacophony surrounding the demands to bring the former president-general to justice makes a spectacle of the way we do politics. Retribution, when it is a one-sided affair, is vendetta; and justice cannot be served by certain individuals in power bent on settling scores, albeit with a wrongdoer.
More
REMEMBER them, anyone? What happened to the puppies he sported in the first weeks in power? Given our sudden desire for punishing Musharraf, he could now also be accused of first using them to offend the faithful and then abandoning them to their fate as he made off to London. Animal rights activists of civil society, please step forward.
The cacophony surrounding the demands to bring the former president-general to justice makes a spectacle of the way we do politics. Retribution, when it is a one-sided affair, is vendetta; and justice cannot be served by certain individuals in power bent on settling scores, albeit with a wrongdoer.
More
Labels: Law, Pervez Musharraf, Politics, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 12:53 PM,
,
Governors can’t recommend judges’ appointment: CJ
Friday, July 24, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 24, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday observed the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary cannot be made merely on the recommendations of governors, as they lack information about judicial professionalism.
The chief justice was heading a 14-judge larger bench of the apex court hearing appeals regarding appointment of two judges of the Sindh High Court — Justice Bin Yamin and Justice Pir Ali Shah — who were not made permanent judges.
More
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday observed the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary cannot be made merely on the recommendations of governors, as they lack information about judicial professionalism.
The chief justice was heading a 14-judge larger bench of the apex court hearing appeals regarding appointment of two judges of the Sindh High Court — Justice Bin Yamin and Justice Pir Ali Shah — who were not made permanent judges.
More
Labels: Judges' Appointment, Judiciary, Law, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:27 PM,
,
Musharraf loses Loyalists
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Qayyum advises former dictator to appear before court; ready to represent him if asked; CJ makes The News part of record.
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 23, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Not even Malik Qayyum, once a great loyalist of Pervez Musharraf, picked up the courage to defend his former boss, who was verbally whipped in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. However, Qayyum showed the guts and nerve to be present all through Wednesday’s proceedings by the 14-member bench in the Nov 3, 2007 case.
More
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 23, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Not even Malik Qayyum, once a great loyalist of Pervez Musharraf, picked up the courage to defend his former boss, who was verbally whipped in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. However, Qayyum showed the guts and nerve to be present all through Wednesday’s proceedings by the 14-member bench in the Nov 3, 2007 case.
More
Labels: Pervez Musharraf, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:44 AM,
,
Unconstitutional acts of Pervez Musharraf
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Tuesday, July 21, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court seemed set to correct monumental wrongs that followed the November 3, 2007, unconstitutional act of Pervez Musharraf, while adjudicating on different petitions that it took up on Monday.
The sense one had while sitting through the extraordinarily important proceedings, spanning three hours, was that Musharraf’s unconstitutional act will be under intense scrutiny, with strong prospects of its quashment, as the decision was not expected to simply resolving the issue of recommendations of the two additional judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC).
More
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court seemed set to correct monumental wrongs that followed the November 3, 2007, unconstitutional act of Pervez Musharraf, while adjudicating on different petitions that it took up on Monday.
The sense one had while sitting through the extraordinarily important proceedings, spanning three hours, was that Musharraf’s unconstitutional act will be under intense scrutiny, with strong prospects of its quashment, as the decision was not expected to simply resolving the issue of recommendations of the two additional judges of the Sindh High Court (SHC).
More
Labels: Judiciary, Pervez Musharraf, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 12:02 AM,
,
SC refuses to disclose cases in SJC
Monday, July 20, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Monday, July 20, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Registrar, Dr Faqir Hussain, has refused to disclose the names of judges of the superior courts and number of references pending disposal in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
“With reference to your application dated 8.7.2009, I may inform you that due to the confidential nature of proceedings under Article 209 of the Constitution, your request for information of the cases has been declined,” the registrar said in a letter to this correspondent in response to a written request.
More
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Registrar, Dr Faqir Hussain, has refused to disclose the names of judges of the superior courts and number of references pending disposal in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
“With reference to your application dated 8.7.2009, I may inform you that due to the confidential nature of proceedings under Article 209 of the Constitution, your request for information of the cases has been declined,” the registrar said in a letter to this correspondent in response to a written request.
More
Labels: Judiciary, Justice, SJC, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:51 AM,
,
SC Acquits Nawaz Sharif in Plane Hijacking Case
Friday, July 17, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 17, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan five-member bench unanimously acquitting Muslim League-N Quaid, Nawaz Sharif in about ten months old plane hijacking case has declared Sindh High Court (SHC)’s earlier decisions invalid.
Headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, the five-member SC bench consists of Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Ghulam Rabbani, Justice Mohammad Moosa K Leghari and Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali.
Earlier on June 18, the same bench had reserved the verdict after the counsels for both sides had concluded their arguments.
Nawaz was sentenced to life imprisonment twice by the Karachi Anti-Terrorism Court (APC) in April 2000, after the APC found him guilty of refusing to allow a commercial aircraft – carrying Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, the army chief at that time, along with 200 other passengers – to land at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi on October 12, 1999.
Source
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan five-member bench unanimously acquitting Muslim League-N Quaid, Nawaz Sharif in about ten months old plane hijacking case has declared Sindh High Court (SHC)’s earlier decisions invalid.
Headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, the five-member SC bench consists of Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Ghulam Rabbani, Justice Mohammad Moosa K Leghari and Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali.
Earlier on June 18, the same bench had reserved the verdict after the counsels for both sides had concluded their arguments.
Nawaz was sentenced to life imprisonment twice by the Karachi Anti-Terrorism Court (APC) in April 2000, after the APC found him guilty of refusing to allow a commercial aircraft – carrying Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf, the army chief at that time, along with 200 other passengers – to land at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi on October 12, 1999.
Source
Labels: Nawaz Sharif, Plane Hijacking Case, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 12:55 PM,
,
Judiciary Vs Executive
Monday, July 13, 2009
Daily Times, Pakistan, Monday, July 13, 2009
The judiciary must eschew the temptation of stepping into the territory of the government or parliament despite the fact that the executive and the legislative organs seem to be doing a bad job
On July 7, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the carbon surcharge on petroleum products imposed by the Finance Act 2009, pending final decision on the petitions that have challenged the surcharge.
More
The judiciary must eschew the temptation of stepping into the territory of the government or parliament despite the fact that the executive and the legislative organs seem to be doing a bad job
On July 7, the Supreme Court temporarily suspended the carbon surcharge on petroleum products imposed by the Finance Act 2009, pending final decision on the petitions that have challenged the surcharge.
More
Labels: Carbon Surcharge, Judiciary, POL Prices, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 8:45 AM,
,
SC Vs Govt
Friday, July 10, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 10, 2009
In a flurry of activity the government, by issuing a Presidential Ordinance (The Petroleum Development Levy Ordinance 2009) has trumped the decision by the Supreme Court to suspend the carbon surcharge subject to review. Petrol and diesel prices rose by 10 and 14 rupees respectively amid confusion on the forecourts of the nations' filling stations. The Supreme Court, sitting on Thursday morning decided to adjourn its hearing on the matter for four weeks – the Presidential Ordinance runs for 120 days, or a little over seventeen weeks - and the bizarre world of political life in Pakistan lurches another couple of steps along the broken road. Commentators and analysts were quickly at work, and mostly of the opinion that the government had done itself no favours - the Supreme Court may have overreached itself by trying to determine policy rather than ruling on its legitimacy; and the chief justice, whether he was right or wrong (in law) in his ruling had caught the zeitgeist and with it popular support. Government was quickly portrayed as 'ruling by ordinance' via a tight feudal cabal centred on the presidency. The government was also being perceived as having driven a coach-and-horses through parliament and it's function as the apex legislative body and the opposition; in the form of the PML-N, was crying 'foul' despite having voted for the budget alongside the government on the 26th June.
More
In a flurry of activity the government, by issuing a Presidential Ordinance (The Petroleum Development Levy Ordinance 2009) has trumped the decision by the Supreme Court to suspend the carbon surcharge subject to review. Petrol and diesel prices rose by 10 and 14 rupees respectively amid confusion on the forecourts of the nations' filling stations. The Supreme Court, sitting on Thursday morning decided to adjourn its hearing on the matter for four weeks – the Presidential Ordinance runs for 120 days, or a little over seventeen weeks - and the bizarre world of political life in Pakistan lurches another couple of steps along the broken road. Commentators and analysts were quickly at work, and mostly of the opinion that the government had done itself no favours - the Supreme Court may have overreached itself by trying to determine policy rather than ruling on its legitimacy; and the chief justice, whether he was right or wrong (in law) in his ruling had caught the zeitgeist and with it popular support. Government was quickly portrayed as 'ruling by ordinance' via a tight feudal cabal centred on the presidency. The government was also being perceived as having driven a coach-and-horses through parliament and it's function as the apex legislative body and the opposition; in the form of the PML-N, was crying 'foul' despite having voted for the budget alongside the government on the 26th June.
More
Labels: POL Prices, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 9:29 AM,
,
President Ordinance Issued to Raise PoL Prices
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The News International, Thursday, July 09, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The petroleum product prices have been inflated again through president ordinance as the Petroleum Development Levy has been imposed on petroleum products with immediate effect, Geo news said early on Thursday.
Now, Rs.10 on petrol and Rs.8 have been raised on diesel.
The ordinance has been named as Petroleum Development Levy Ordinance 2009 which president signed early in the morning.
The president signed the written advice from Prime Minister to raise petroleum prices through president ordinance while their copies have been sent to Ministry of Petroleum and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
It is pertinent to mention that Supreme Court (SC) suspended the carbon tax surcharge on petroleum products through its ruling on Tuesday.
Source
ISLAMABAD: The petroleum product prices have been inflated again through president ordinance as the Petroleum Development Levy has been imposed on petroleum products with immediate effect, Geo news said early on Thursday.
Now, Rs.10 on petrol and Rs.8 have been raised on diesel.
The ordinance has been named as Petroleum Development Levy Ordinance 2009 which president signed early in the morning.
The president signed the written advice from Prime Minister to raise petroleum prices through president ordinance while their copies have been sent to Ministry of Petroleum and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
It is pertinent to mention that Supreme Court (SC) suspended the carbon tax surcharge on petroleum products through its ruling on Tuesday.
Source
Labels: Governance, POL Prices, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Zardari
posted @ 9:26 AM,
,
Carbon Surcharge Suspended by Supreme Court
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 08, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The government was made to fret over the fiscal impact while the masses went into a celebratory mode hoping for a permanent relief when the Supreme Court in its interim order on Tuesday suspended the imposition of carbon tax on petroleum products and directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to issue a notification by Wednesday, suspending the tax till the final decision on the petitions.
More
Labels: Budget, Carbon Tax, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 9:16 AM,
,
Supreme Court directs government not to increase power tariff
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Tuesday, July 07, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the government not to increase power tariff until the case against increase in electricity rates was pending before the court.
A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui, gave this direction while hearing a suo moto on the proposed raise in electricity tariff.
More
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the government not to increase power tariff until the case against increase in electricity rates was pending before the court.
A three-member bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui, gave this direction while hearing a suo moto on the proposed raise in electricity tariff.
More
Labels: Power Tarrifs, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 7:32 AM,
,
Price hike in POL products challenged in SC
Friday, July 3, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 03, 2009
ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the recent hike in prices of petroleum products, praying for suspending the notification through which the POL prices were jacked up.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on June 30 issued a notification, through which the POL prices had been increased. The petition was filed by PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra through Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry, advocate, under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the Federation as respondent.
More
ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the recent hike in prices of petroleum products, praying for suspending the notification through which the POL prices were jacked up.
The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) on June 30 issued a notification, through which the POL prices had been increased. The petition was filed by PML-N Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra through Muhammad Ikram Chaudhry, advocate, under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the Federation as respondent.
More
Labels: POL Prices, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 9:56 AM,
,
SC moved against drone attacks
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 02, 2009
ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition was filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court, challenging drone attacks in the tribal belt of the country and praying for directing the federal government to submit a report before the court as to who was responsible for causing the “murders” of citizens.
The court was also prayed to direct the federal government to get an FIR registered against US President Barack Obama and those responsible for the murder of “innocent” people in drone attacks. The petition was filed by M Tariq Asad advocate, Chairman of the National Council of Human Rights, under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the federal government through its secretary, Ministry of Interior, as respondent.
More
ISLAMABAD: A constitutional petition was filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court, challenging drone attacks in the tribal belt of the country and praying for directing the federal government to submit a report before the court as to who was responsible for causing the “murders” of citizens.
The court was also prayed to direct the federal government to get an FIR registered against US President Barack Obama and those responsible for the murder of “innocent” people in drone attacks. The petition was filed by M Tariq Asad advocate, Chairman of the National Council of Human Rights, under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, making the federal government through its secretary, Ministry of Interior, as respondent.
More
Labels: Drone Attacks, Religious Schools, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 9:59 AM,
,
