Regrets allegations regarding violation of judiciary’s decisions
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday said the
government was committed to restoring peace of Karachi and for that
purpose was dealing with the target killers relentlessly.
The
Prime Minister was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of
the new Supreme Court bar Association (SCBA) building here on Monday.
Announcing a grant of Rs200 million for the construction of the new
SCBA building the prime minister said it was not an occasion only to
inaugurate a building of an important civil society institution but
also of putting up a structure that will further enhance the
intellectual potential of this apex Bar.
“I cannot help but
recall the days when many of us stood outside this building protesting
against the despotic rule of a dictator,” recalled the prime minister
paying rich tributes to the bar association.
The prime minister
said the passage of the 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments by the
present Parliament was a giant step forward. These amendments show the
maturity, strength and dynamism of our political system. He said that
he had a firm conviction that if democracy functioned on a sustainable
basis, the system could resolve the contemporary issues amicably that
confront the nation, he said. The prime minister said the government
as well as people was facing troubling days. “The immediate dangers to
our national security emanate from the internal factors. The situation
in Karachi poses serious threats to the law and order situation in the
metropolis and has implications for the country’s economy. We cannot
and would not allow the terrorists and gangsters to play havoc with the
lives of innocent people of Karachi,” he said. The prime minister
assured the audience that the government was alive to situation and was
doing everything possible to bring the situation back to normalcy. The
provincial cabinet, in a recent meeting has ordered across the board
action against miscreants, he said.
“The federal government
fully endorses the steps taken by the government of Sindh and assures
it of its complete cooperation,” the prime minister assured.
“We
believe that the long-term solution to the Karachi problem lies in
political dialogue. I am also mindful of the fact that precious lives
of lawyers too have been a target of this horrible violence, I am
hopeful that with the cooperation of all political forces and the
people of Karachi, we will foil the designs of nefarious elements and
bring the perpetrators of violence to justice,” he said.
The
prime minister said he knew fully well that in the face of severe
threats, very few individuals will have the courage to give evidence
but, he said alternative forms of evidence in nature of availability of
modern devices, providing unimpeachable circumstantial evidence, could
be made admissible in courts. “Together we have to lay strong legal
foundations to challenge the curse of violence that is threatening our
social, economic and political development. The legal fraternity has
always played an activist as well as intellectual role in founding and
building this nation,” said the prime minister.
Earlier
welcoming the Prime Minister, President of the Supreme Court Bar
Association (SCBA) Asma Jahangir said the SCBA played a leading role in
uprooting the firm grip of a dictator and in upholding the principle
that the judiciary should be allowed to work independently. “Our role
has been historic but we cannot claim to be placed on a pedestal. We
too have our weaknesses and failings. We have fallen short
of contributing more vigorously towards continuing legal education,
research and commentary on key judgments,” said Asma Jahangir.
She
said the entire lawyers’ community was deeply concerned at the rising
levels of crime across the country and especially in Karachi. It is not
the war of words that is of concern to us.
She urged the
government to revisit the legal system so that it is strengthened and
yet due process was guaranteed to the accused. “Woefully the attempt
made by the government in “Actions (in aid of Civil Power) Regulation,
2011”, which apply to FATA and PATA fall short of all standards of
human rights and humanitarian law,” she said.
She also thanked the former Law Minister Babar Awan for making a generous donation of Rs40 million for the SCBA.
She
assured that the single rupee donated by the government to the Supreme
Court Bar Association during my Presidency will be spent on the
construction, purchase of land and consultancy fee for the building.
The entire grant will solely be spent on the building complex as agreed
with you. “It is our good fortune that Mr. Nayar Ali Dada has designed
this building at a very competitive fee,” she said. She also thanked
the CDA for facilitating the purchase of land and accepting the plan
without any wastage of time. Online
