Attaullah Tarar says the whole nation is united in the war on terrorism.
Says JIT will be formed for an investigation into the terrorist attack on Chinese engineers in Besham
PTI demands an open court hearing on the matter of the letter written by six judges of IHC to SJC
Islamabad Bar Association says it stands with the implementation of the constitution & law and the independence of the judiciary
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday has decided that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) will be formed for investigation into terrorist attack on Chinese engineers in Besham.
Sharing details of the meeting at a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Advocate said the meeting recognized the importance of adopting a coordinated strategy to curb the menace of terrorism. He said a mechanism will be devised under this strategy to ensure greater coordination amongst the relevant stakeholders.
The Information Minister said the meeting applauded the role of security forces in the war on terrorism. He said the participants of the meeting were on the same page that no stone will be left unturned to eradicate the menace of terrorism. He said the whole nation is united in the war on terrorism, reaffirming that every possible step will be taken for the security of important installations, Chinese citizens and the Pakistani people.
The meeting was attended by the federal ministers, Army Chief Syed Asim Munir, the four provincial chief ministers as well as the chief secretaries and IGPs of the federating units.
Attaullah Tarar said anti-Pakistan elements want to hurt the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and China but they will fail in their designs. He said this everlasting relationship will remain intact.
The Information Minister said China has always stood by Pakistan in difficult times. He said the country has always supported Pakistan’s stance at the international forums. He said the CPEC is our lifeline and guarantor of economic development. He said Pakistan shares the grief and sorrow of the Chinese people at this hour of grief.
Responding to a question regarding security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, Attaullah Tarar said there are SOPs in this regard and all out steps are taken to ensure their implementation. However, following the yesterday’s incident, we are identifying any loopholes in the SOPs or their implementation.
To another question, the Minister said federal government is closely engaged with the provincial governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on security issue.
He mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Chief Minister Balochistan to expedite working on Gwadar safe city project being funded by federal government and in this regard the Chief Minister will visit Gwadar tomorrow (Thursday).
He said Counter Terrorism force will be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the pattern of the state of the art CTD force of Punjab.
To a question about Afghanistan’s involvement in terror incidents in Pakistan, Attaullah Tarar said Prime Minister has already made it clear that any use of soil against Pakistan will be thwarted. He said we continue to emphasize peace in the region and resolve issues through negotiations.
PTI demand an open court hearing on the matter of letter
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has demanded an open court hearing on the matter of letter written by six judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC) to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). The PTI also demanded formation of judicial commission for inquiry of the letter and added the judges who wrote this letter, their security should be ensured.
Addressing press conference along with PTI leaders Umar Ayub Khan and secretary information Rauf Hassan, Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that IHC judges informed of interference in the letter. He said there was only one purpose of bringing judges in pressure which was written by judges in the letter. Judges further said in the letter that interference was done in the political cases.
They said that the judges mentioned about Tariyan White case which also included Toshakhana case. In the Toshakhana case, session judge was pressurized. They said that six judges of IHC were influenced while sub courts also were affected. Gohar Khan further said this was the reason that three punishments were given to founder of PTI in five days. In the short term, he said, the government of PDM made 200 cases against founder of PTI, adding PTI founder was not given right of fair trial in any case.
He said all the cases which were registered against PTI founder have ended after this letter which is why these decisions should be declared null and void by releasing founder PTI. He said one of the judges said they don’t know where are their children? One judge said that walima ceremony of his son was delayed.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan demanded judges and their families’ security lest they have to endure Commissioner Rawalpindi-like situations and the Supreme Court should conduct an open court hearing. He said if the matter was not investigated it would dent people’s confidence in the courts, adding the entire nation is standing by the court. He said for us every judge is respectable and important.
He appealed to lawyers to become united for the sake of independence of judiciary. He said they assure you that every worker of PTI would stand by you. He demanded formation of larger bench today and Supreme Court should start hearing from tomorrow (Thursday). On this occasion, Umar Ayub Khan said that judges’ letter is a charge-sheet against administrative matters of the country as country system has been unfolded.
Islamabad Bar Association expresses concerns over the letter written to SJC
Islamabad Bar Association has said that it stands with implementation of constitution and law and independence of judiciary.
Emergency meeting of Cabinet of Islamabad Bar Association was held under chairmanship of President Islamabad Bar Association Raja Muhammad Shakeel Abasi. The meeting expressed concerns over letter written to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) regarding interference in courts independence by six judges of Islamabad High Court including Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz.
Before this, former judge of IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had put forth such stance. Islamabad Bar Association believes in independence of judiciary which is basic quality of Constitution and people confidence is also connected to independence of judiciary. Any act against it which dent independence of judiciary is dangerous for law and justice as well as for the society. Islamabad Bar Association stands with implementation of constitution and law and independence of judiciary.