The Supreme Court, while expressing anguish over non-implementation of its verdict in the PCO judges' case, gave August 9 deadline to the federal government for de-notification of the PCO judges.
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani and Justice Amir Hani Muslim heard the suo moto case on Friday, while the Federation was represented by Senator Babar Awan.
Babar Awan informed the court that a summary regarding the PCO judges had been sent to Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, to which the chief justice replied that this was a court order and required no summary. The chief justice remarked that no one would be allowed to sabotage the authority of the court.
Justice Iftikhar enquired from Babar Awan was that true that the court decision was criticised in the cabinet meeting. Babar Awan replied that these were mere media speculations. The chief justice further asked whether the court verdicts will not be implemented if these were not acceptable to the government.
Babar Awan informed the court that the prime minister was not in Islamabad and requested two days time. The Supreme Court summoned the law secretary and attorney general and gave the government time till August 9.
In its May 18 decision, the Supreme Court had declared that seven High Court judges who had taken oath under the PCO were illegally appointed, therefore, their appointment should be de-notified. The government had assured the court that it would implement this decision but despite this assurance the judges were never de-notified.
