AgNoStiC MuSliM
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SSGPA:Now this is also every interesting:
48 (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (1), the President shall act in his discretion in respect of any matter in respect of which he is empowered by the Constitution to do so [26A][and the validity of anything done by the President in his discretion shall not be called in question on any ground whatsoever].
[26B]
President has the power to appoint judges after consulting with the CJP. Since both branches couldn't agree the power rests with the Executive branch because the PM also advised the President to do the same.
Article above further nullifies the SC bench decission for the suspension of the appointments.
What next?
If Justice Sharif refuses to accept the appointment then he will be considered retired as per the following article:
[206 Resignation,
(1)] A Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court may resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the President.
[229] [(2) A Judge of a High Court who does not accept appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court shall be deemed to have retired from his office and, on such retirement, shall be entitled to receive a pension calculated on the basis of the length of his service as Judge and total service, if any, in the service of Pakistan.]
The problem arises from the Al-Jihad and similar cases in which prior Supreme Court benches have interpreted the appointment provisions to imply the CJ has the final authority.
Whether we agree or not, the fact is that Pakistani institutions and individuals are bound to respect that judgment/interpretation.
This is why I said earlier that either another bench of the Supreme Court must issue a ruling in favor of the President, overturning the previous ruling, or parliament must clarify/amend the articles related to judicial appointments via an amendment.
At the end of the day the judiciary is responsible for interpreting the constitution.
So the Zardari government could file a case in the SC arguing its position, and hope for a favorable ruling (unlikely), or the constitutional amendments being negotiated currently might be passed.
I would argue that the GoP will file suit in the SC, and this whole tamasha was to waste time and delay appointments to the courts until the constitutional amendments are passed.