Govt abiding by SC ruling on NRO: Babar

ISLAMABAD Federal Minister for Law and Justice Dr Babar Awan has said that Government is keeping a weather eye open for dispatching a letter to Swiss authorities with regard to reopening of cases against President Asif Ali Zardari. Federation is following the directions of the Supreme Court given on 20th February to Chairman NAB, Naveed Ahsan, to ask the Government to implement the apex courts verdict on NRO and ensure reopening of Swiss cases, Babar said while replying to a query in an oath-taking ceremony of office-bearers of Press Association of Supreme Court here on Friday. The Minister also avoided tough questions of the journalists with regard to the letter that has yet to be written by the Federation to Swiss government instead of clear-cut directions of Chief Justice of Pakistan on 20th February. Babar denied the presence of any tussle between the two top organs of the state - judiciary and executive. He also turned various questions down regarding extension reportedly being given to Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. Replying another query, Babar said Chairman Parliamentary Committee on the Constitutional Reforms Mian Raza Rabbani would hand over his recommendations to Law Ministry during the next week as 95 percent work of the Committee had been completed. The Law Ministry will tabled the recommendations of the Committee before the National Assembly in the next session commencing from 14th March, he added. The Minister, who was very frank with the journalists, informed further that different constitutional clauses with regard to provincials autonomy, list of Federal Governments legislation were reviewed in result of 61 meetings. It was his first interaction with journalists in the premises of Supreme Court of Pakistan after recovery of long illness. Continuing his formal and informal chat with the journalist, Dr Babar said that the Committee members hailing from 27 organisations including four provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan put their recommendations before the Committee to make provinces politically, financially and administratively independent. It is also a breakthrough which will surely lead the Federation to revoke concurrent list and make provinces totally owner for their resources, the Minister said. He went on to say that some members also suggested that the local bodies elections should be held through Election Commission of Pakistan. The Constitution of 1973 will be restored in its real shape by 23rd March, the Minister claimed. The 17th Amendment would keep the military away from Islamabad (means to take the seat of President) in any untoward situation. Reformations/amendments will also set the criteria for a person who violates the Constitution for his/her trail according to law, he further said. The Committee also set the recommendations with regard to high treason cases accordingly, he said. In Marathon sittings, the Committee after hearing the arguments of members also reviewed recommendations of the Election Commission regarding holding of elections and also agreed that the Government employees would not be terminated through illegal ways and means in future, he stated. Reading between the lines of the recommendations being presented before the National Assembly, he said it would adorn the Constitution on the peak mechanism, which would pave the way for safe Federation. Talking about laurels of his Government, he said no political arrest was being made in volatile areas. Insurgency has also been ended in Balochistan, he added. Nation will judge the PPP governments performance as the fourth general elections will be holding in 2014, the Minister said. The Minister finally took oath from the office-bearers of Press Association of Supreme Court. The names of office-bearers are Khalid Azim, Qamar Zaman, Sadaqat Chaudhry, Rashid, Abrahim Qambar, Ghulam Murtaza, Ijaz Ahmad, Abid Hussain, Nasir Kazmi and Arshad Malik.

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