Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali on Monday said that better management of natural resources could bring more development to the country.

He was talking to an 82-member delegation from the Pakistan Navy War College of Lahore. The delegation, comprising members of the 46th staff course, was led by Rear Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, the commandant of the PN War College. Chief Justice Jamali stressed the need for improving the prevailing system in the country through the application of information technology tools. Welcoming the delegation, he gave them an overview of the 1973 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and explained salient features of the country’s judicial system, its composition, functions and role in dispensation of justice.

He also briefed them about the constitutional jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Articles 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188. “The present judicial system dates back to the British period. However, it is still effective, strong and functioning in an organised and systematic way to dispense justice to litigant parties in accordance with the law in a transparent manner without fear or favour,” he said.

Later, he answered questions raised by the delegation members in an interactive session and shared his experiences. Rear Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi thanked the chief justice on his own behalf and on behalf of the delegation for sparing time for them and sharing his knowledge.

The delegation presented a souvenir to the chief justice as a token of respect and gesture of goodwill. The chief justice also reciprocated the gesture by presenting a memento on the occasion.

Later, the delegation visited the Parliament House where they were briefed about the functioning of the parliament. Visiting officers also asked questions about various technical details about the qualification of members of the parliament.

One of the under training officers asked about what rules would be followed to disqualify the prime minister or Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan if they failed to attend the parliament sessions. A senior official of the National Assembly said that if a member remained absent for 40 days without submitting any application for leave, the said member could be disqualified according to rules and regulations.

He further said that it was not compulsory for the prime minister and ministers to submit applications for leave. “However, they may inform the speaker about their inability to come to the assembly due to their official duties,” he said. To another question, he said the three services chiefs were invited to attend the parliament session on special occasions and seats were allocated to them in the speaker’s gallery.

“However, if any briefing is required from them, then the session can be held in-camera by turning the entire house into a committee. In such circumstances, the services chiefs can be allowed to sit in the house. Some delegation members also asked questions about the prevailing political situation. However, they were informed that the Panama issue was sub judice and therefore it could not be discussed.