Parliament can increase number of Supreme Court judges through Constitutional amendment: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD, July 9 (SABAH):  Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry has said that fully independent judiciary without any check and balance is as fatal for the country as politics is.

Ahsan Iqbal said this during an interview with a private TV channel here. He further said that Parliament could increase the number of Supreme Court of Pakistan judges through Constitutional amendment and continued that politicians as well judges would have to work in the light of the Constitution.

Expressing his optimism, he was of the view that economy of the country would surely come out of crisis and added the country enjoys much potential that it can deal with such an issue. He said that there is a need of restoration of peace and stability as well as continuity of policies of the country for putting it on the path towards prosperity and development within next few years.

The minister for Planning and Development expressed his hope that Supreme Court of Pakistan which is a State’s institution certainly feels its State responsibilities.

The minister was of the view that economic matters directly link to the political activities and added if the Supreme Court’s announces such decisions which disrupt political order, it would have direct impacts on economy of the country. “Such people are sitting in the Supreme Court who took oath on Constitution of Pakistan. I hope, we have learned a lesson from our mistakes,” he added.

“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Hamid Khan revealed that decision pertaining to disqualification of former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had already been done and that the court had just signed on it. What was left behind when the Supreme Court became part of such game,” Ahsan Iqbal questioned.

“It is basic rule of law that every court remains free in taking its judgments and it is why the people enjoy right to file their applications in the court. If a lower court is working under the supervision of superior judiciary, then how the latter could conduct hearing of the cases by being impartial,” he questioned.

Ahsan Iqbal, “It is an open secret that Justice Arshad Malik was blackmailed. He was not capable of working as judge which is why he was fired from the service but the verdict he issued against Mian Nawaz Sharif was totally justified.  Today, testimonies of all those characters are coming in front of the nation who had been part of this game. Those who were against us, are now revealing the truths.”

He maintained, “Framework of 5E’s is totally based on enhancing exports. “We have opportunity and a single point agenda is to develop and boost our industry, agriculture, mining, IT sectors alongside export of manpower. If we rectify our export sector within coming five years then no-one could damage Pakistan,” he mentioned.

Ahsan Iqbal further said no institution of the country has right to damage its future and economy the way a political party did on May 9. “We could not bear the consequences of May 9 like incidents. At present, if someone plays with the political stability of the country, it would be tantamount to taking place of another May 9,” he concluded.