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Islamabad, January 02, 2009: The
third day of Youth Parliament Pakistan’s second session
discussed the prospects of restoration and independence of
judiciary in the country. The MYPs demanded the immediate
restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while
stressing that it is not just one person but the question of
uncompromised and complete autonomy of a the most important
institution. Mr. Illahi Bukhsh Soomro, Former Speaker of the
National Assembly, who presided the session, commended the
house on its punctuality and attendance. The session also
hosted Mr. Hamid Khan, Former President of Supreme Court Bar
Association, to speak on independence of judiciary
Business of the house began with a
calling attention notice moved by Mir Fahad Iqbal
(YP61-SINDH13) and Umair Zafar Malik (YP33-PUNJAB) regarding
unauthorised favours given to the daughter of de-facto Chief
Justice of Pakistan and reluctance of the authorities to
actively investigate the issue. It was felt by the house that
the government should undertake a transparent and unbiased
investigation of the case. Later, a resolution moved by Syed
Ansar Hussain (YP12-NA01) and Syed Mohsin Raza (YP56-SINDH08)
and Suffian Ahmad Bajar (YP39-Punjab20) urged the government,
representatives of the lawyers’ community and the opposition
to hold a comprehensive dialogue in order to smoothen out
their long standing differences coming in way of the
restoration of judiciary. They stressed on settling
controversial issues on priority, to steer the country out of
the judicial lurch and thus restore the true sense of
democracy. The house agreed that good governance is a
provision of three basic civil rights: good political
governance; good economic governance and good civic governance
and all these require the yardstick of justice for a starter.
After passionate debate from both the parties the resolution
was unanimously passed by the house.
The final business of the house today
was a resolution moved by Mr Rafiq Wassan (YP59-SINDH11), Syed
Waqar Ali (YP01-AJKO1), Muhammad Khalil Tahir (YP02-AJK02) and
Mr. Ahsan Yousaf Chaudhry (YP42-PUNJAB23). This resolution
asked for reformation of judicial structure of Pakistan while
taking the legal fraternity into confidence over the reforms.
The mover gave some reform proposals that ranged from evening
courts; increase in the salaries of the judges; carrying out
special trainings, computerization of judicial records,
electronic postal systems and hearings to be carried out
publicly. They also supported setting up of the national
committee initially proposed by the guest speaker. Ms. Hira
Batool Rizvi (YP15-NWFP03) Minister for Culture, Sports and
Youth Affairs also pointed out the stigmatisation of the
profession of law and discouragement of women in the society
to join the profession. The opposition criticized the
resolution by questioning the availability of funds for the
proposed increase in salary and induction of staff for evening
courts and its maintenance; access of electronic mailing
system to rural areas and the secrecy of sub-judicial
procedures. On account of various procedural implications, the
resolution was referred to Standing Committee on Law and
Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights for review.
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