ISLAMABAD – Web Desk: The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to the President and Prime Minister through their secretaries over the delay in approving a summary for the appointment of new judges, according to court proceedings.
The notices were issued on a petition filed against President Asif Ali Zardari’s failure to approve the summary. The court also summoned replies from the Ministry of Law by Monday. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir expressed strong displeasure with the federal government, questioning why the summary had been stalled for 18 days despite the Judicial Commission’s approval.
“When you don’t want to work, why did you make the constitution?” Justice Tahir remarked. The court asked the government to clarify at which stage the summary is currently pending. Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez informed the court that the President can no longer reject the summary at this stage.
The court also questioned what steps the government had taken after the 15-day deadline passed. It noted that new judges for the Islamabad High Court had been pending for some time. The hearing was adjourned until Monday.
The written order directed the government and Ministry of Law to submit detailed reports by Monday, including the date the Prime Minister sent the summary to the President, any subsequent action taken, and the consequences of leaving the summary pending indefinitely.
