18th amend withdraws PMs say in judges appointment: CJ

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday remarked that the 18th amendment rendered the PM with all the powers earlier enjoyed by the President, except the say in appointment of judges. The CJ observed, while resuming the hearing of cases against some clauses of 18th amendment, that Prime Minister is the chief executive of the state in the Parliamentary system of government. Chief Justice Chaudhry has said that the 18th Amendment has introduced large scale changes in the constitution transferring all Presidential powers to the Prime Minister. After the amendment the Prime Minister has become a powerful chief executive, while he has been deprived of consultation in the matter of appointment of the judges. The amendment has established a genuine system of the parliamentary government, the Chief Justice observed. Justice Javed Iqbal maintained that supremacy of the Parliament is the cornerstone of the parliamentary system of government but no lawyer discussed this aspect of the case. Justice Javed Iqbal asked Advocate Salman Raja whether the Article 175 of the 18th amendment would harm the judiciarys freedom.Salman told the court in negative, and added that the amendment would not affect the supremacy of the Parliament as well. Justice Ramday observed that in government set-up the Judiciary is separated from executive and Parliament because it has to play the role of watchdog for both the former organs of the state. The court adjourned the case till tomorrow.