ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Monday, permitted Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Saqib Nisar to head the commissions set up to investigate the Abbottabad operation and Saleem Shahzad murder, respectively.The Law Ministry on June 19 had written two letters to Supreme Court Registrar requesting the chief justice to appoint judges of the apex court to head the inquiry commissions to look into the two incidents of Abbottabad, and Saleem Shahzad murder. The chief justice considered the requests carefully. He observed that although the court was already short of its sanctioned strength and honourable judges were committed to administer justice even beyond their capacity, he was allowing Justice Javed Iqbal and Justice Saqib Nisar to head the commissions.“The competent authority, while nominating the other members of commission will also consider their status quo the position of head of the commission being judge of the apex court.” the CJP stated in his order. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court had ordered the constitution of a high-powered inquiry commission and directed to expand the scope of the commission for probing Shahzad’s abduction and murder.A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing of the petition filed by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) regarding the killing of Shahzad. At the outset of the proceedings of the case, the chief justice told the counsel for the applicants that he has received the government’s letter seeking nomination of a judge to lead the commission in Shahzad murder case.
The CJP asked them to get instructions from their client about the constitution of the commission and directed them to inform the bench. The court disposed of the plea seeking reconstitution and broadening of terms of reference of the inquiry commission to be set up afresh by the government to probe Shahzad’s killing. The chief justice also told the counsel for federation and attorney general that dignity of the Supreme Court judge to head the commission would be maintained and other members would be of no less than the status of apex court judges. – Dailytimes
