New judicial policy eliminates PMs role: CJ

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday observed that the new judicial policy is against the spirit of Constitution, as the judges appointment procedure eliminated the role of prime minister altogether. A 17-member bench, under the head of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, resumed hearing of the petitions against some clauses of the 18th amendment. The CJ questioned that how could the parliamentary body send the recommendations regarding judges appointment direct to the president while parliamentary system of government is being observed in the state where the president is bound to take decision after consulting the prime minister. He observed that the committee headed by Raza Rabbani did not consider the judges appointment issue in 7 months, and suddenly Peoples Party Parliamentarians floated the idea of judicial commission. Justice Ramday said that the parliamentary body has power to veto the judicial commission recommendations, adding that if the committee wanted to have absolute powers than what was the need of the judicial commission and else. Justice Tassaduq asked for the logic behind formation of new judicial policy.