Notification on reinstatement of sacked judiciary, detailed judgement in Sharif brothers’ disqualification case and review petition against that decision are likely today. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday announced reinstatement of all judges deposed by former President Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007 after their refusal to take a fresh oath under the PCO.
The government adopted various modes to address judicial crisis which include increase in number of apex court judges from 16 to 29 to accommodate deposed judges, payment of salaries to all deposed judges and restoration of deposed judges through fresh oath.
At present number of judges at the apex court including Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar is 21 and the number would reach 25 after retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and reinstatement of deposed judges including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Reinstated judges of the apex court including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry comprise Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Raja Fiaz Ahmed.
Judges of Sindh High Court reinstated by the PM include Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Maqbool Baqir whereas Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan of Peshawar High Court and Justice Khawaja Sharif, Justice Iqbal Hamoodur Rehman and Justice Ijaz Chaudhry of Lahore High Court have also been reinstated.
Talking about reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the PM said: “on the retirement of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on March 21, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would take charge of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The notification of his reinstatement is being issued.”
Legal experts are of the opinion that the modus operandi adopted by the government in reinstating deposed judges would become clear after the issuance of notification.
Experts say that the notification would address several questions as it has been announced that the CJ would take charge after the retirement of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar but nothing has been said regarding restoration of deposed judges of the apex court and high courts. The PM had also announced to file a review petition against an earlier decision of the apex court declaring Sharif brothers disqualified from holding any elected office. Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa said that detailed judgement was mandatory for filing a review petition and it is expected that it would be done on Tuesday after the release of detailed judgement.
GILANI SENDS ADVICE TO ZARDARI Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has sent the advice for restoration of deposed judges to President Asif Ali Zardari. The Ministry of Law sent a summary to the Prime Minister pertaining to the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, said Secretary Law Justice Agha Muhammad Rafiq.