Govt won’t take any unconstitutional step: Babar Awan

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Law minister terms reports about executive order baseless

* Kaira says some people creating news according to their wishes

LAHORE: The incumbent democratic government would not do anything unconstitutional and illegal, a private TV channel quoted federal Law Minister Babar Awan as saying on Friday.

In a joint press conference with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Awan said the Pakistan People’s Party government respected the Supreme Court’s verdicts and a difference of opinion could not be considered a clash between the two institutions. He said no constitutional institution should feel threatened in the presence of an elected parliament and a democratic set-up. He said the PPP-led government was well aware of its constitutional and legal obligations and would work for strengthening of institutions.

“Rest assured, the PPP-led government will take no ultra constitutional or un-constitutional steps. We cannot assure that we will please everyone, but it is certain that rule of law and constitution will be guaranteed,” he added.

News report: Awan termed news reports of an executive order to revoke the judges’ reinstatement baseless, adding that the premier would address the nation in this regard on Sunday. He said that the people should believe what the premier says instead of tickers on TV channels.

He mentioned that state organs considered to be serving Pakistan were not allowed to indulge in politics, thus they should refrain from doing so. He rebuffed those using government resources for doing politics, saying that there would be no confrontation for the sake of democracy, the channel reported.

Anomalies: The minister said some elements were trying to destabilise the government but it had been patient and was not going anywhere until it completed its five-year term. He said that the government was proud of having removed anomalies from the constitution through the 18th Amendment. To a question on the NAB chairman’s appointment, Awan said that there was a difference between consultation and consent and the opposition had been consulted in this regard.

Wishes: Information Minister Kaira said personal opinions should not be aired as news. He said some people were creating news according to their wishes and personal opinions, which was unjustified. Kaira said a section of media was indulging in yellow journalism and voices against this section of media were being raised in the journalist community itself.

He said the Supreme Court had now issued directives and the government would hold an inquiry into the baseless rumours regarding the withdrawal of the notification of judges’ restoration.

The minister said the government would not take any action itself against those behind this baseless and fabricated news report because the government would be then blamed for imposing curbs on free media. He said nobody could be punished on the basis of allegations only. He said that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and courts were there to investigate the allegations of corruption. He said the government had constituted a committee to finalise a code of conduct for the media. daily times monitor/ap