Pak Attorney General says Parliament can approve Musharraf's trial(Update-Sardar Latif Khan Khosa)

Islamabad, Aug.3 (ANI): Pakistan's Attorney General Pakistan Sardar Latif Khan Khosa on Monday said that Parliament could approve the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf by passing a simple majority resolution against his November 3, 2007 acts.

Talking to reporters here after the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Khosa said that if a resolution for conducting the trial of Musharraf was moved in Parliament, the federal government would be bound to act as Parliament was the country's supreme law making body.

Replying to a question regarding the fate of two judges of the Supreme Court who also took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), Latif Khosa said the cases of Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar and Justice Javed Buttar would be sent to Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

He said the Supreme Judicial Council could hear matters of these judges under Article 209 of the Constitution. However, he added that if any judge tenders resignation during the proceedings, reference against him could not be heard as the SJC takes action only against sitting judges.

"A judge retains his position till the verdict of the SJC," Khosa said.

About the ordinances promulgated after November 3, 2007, the AG said the law committee of the Parliament would thoroughly look into the matter and would decide which ordinances are in public interest.

A total of 37 ordinances had been promulgated between November 3, and December 15, 2007, which had been referred to the Parliament.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had said that the final decision regarding Musharraf's fate would be taken by Parliament.

Commenting on the Supreme Court's verdict that declared Musharraf's November 3, 2007 actions as 'extra-judicial and unconstitutional', Gilani said Parliament is the appropriate forum to take decisions of national interest.

"They (Supreme Court) have given their verdict. I have been saying from day one that parliament is the forum which has to take these decisions. Let parliament decide," Gilani said.

When enquired about his own view on the verdict, Gilani said he did not hold a personal opinion on the issue.

"My party will have an opinion and the party will never support a dictator," The Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

Replying to a question, he said in the presence of a free media, strong political forces and an 'active judiciary', people's expectation has grown, and that the Parliament has to act very maturely on the issue. (ANI)