Gilani ‘breaks ice’ with Chief Justice Chaudhry over govt- judiciary standoff

ISLAMABAD - In an apparent bid to deescalate the heightened tension between the executive and the judiciary in the country, Pakistan Prime Minister has invited Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in order to iron out their differences.

Gilani met Chaudhry at a banquet hosted in the honour of Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, who retired recently as a Supreme Court Judge.

“It is our own country and we have to work in unison. We have no differences,” Gilani said during a brief chat with the media at the function.

“I have been asserting that we have cordial relations with the judiciary. I have come here for a dinner and not to do politics. I have invited the honourable chief justice to come to my house. It is also his house,” Gilani added.

He, however, parried questions regarding whether the government is planning to withdraw the recent notification on judges’ appointment, which has created a furore in the country.

“For every wrong done, there is a remedy. I have been stating this on the floor of the House,” Gilani said.

Meanwhile, speculations are rife that the government may withdraw its order to elevate the Lahore High Court Chief Justice (LHC) to the apex bench, and appoint Justice Saqib Nisar as the acting Chief Justice of the LHC, as Gilani told media persons during the banquet that the ‘nation would hear good news on Wednesday (today).’

The two presidential notifications, which have already been suspended by a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, would come up for hearing on the 18th of this month. (ANI)