Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to reappoint Farogh Naseem, MQM Senator, as the Federal Law Minister, two days after he tendered his resignation from the post to become the legal counsel for Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in the Supreme Court hearing regarding the extension in his tenure.
Read more: Pakistan alone cannot take Kashmir Issue to the ICJ: Farogh Naseem
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, on Thursday, issued a short order granting the Army Chief a conditional extension of six months, directing the parliament to iron out the constitutional guidelines and legislate the terms under which an Army Chief’s tenure can be extended.
Farogh Naseem Reappointment
Sources reveal that Farogh Naseem will be sworn in as the Federal Minister for Law and Justice today (Friday). The oath-taking ceremony will be administered by President Arif Alvi at his official residence in Islamabad, following which, the Cabinet Division will issue a notification confirming Naseem’s reappointment.
#LiveNow: Barrister Farogh Naseem taking oath https://t.co/l12qs5jqeZ
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) November 29, 2019
Earlier on Thursday, Barrister Farogh Naseem dismissed all speculations that the Prime Minister has rebuked the government’s legal team for mismanaging the notification of Army Chief’s extension. He said, “I want to clarify that no one asked to give my resignation-not Prime Minister Imran Khan nor General Bajwa. I resigned voluntarily to serve my country.”
In the past, Prime Minister Imran Khan has lauded Farogh Naseem as one of his “favorite ministers” in the Federal Cabinet.
The participants voiced their confidences in Prime Minister Khan’s decision and the judiciary, hailing the judiciary as a strong pillar of the country
Govt’s Legal Team Reprimanded
Sources reveal that during a Parliamentary Party meeting of the PTI, held on Thursday, the government’s legal team has been reprimanded. The MPs rebuked the legal team for repetitive inconsistencies in the summaries prepared for the reappointment for the Army Chief, which became a cause of embarrassment for the government in the Supreme Court.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi presided over the meeting since the Prime Minister was occupied in official engagement. Sources revealed that some participants were disappointed by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s absence.
What just happened by government’s legal team can only be termed as ‘gross negligence’ says Barrister Saif… part – 1 pic.twitter.com/DsfR0jPzft
— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) November 27, 2019
The Parliamentary Party meeting was held hours after Chief Justice Khosa announced the Supreme Court short order, granting a conditional extension to Army Chief General Bajwa for six months, during which the government must legislate on the issue of extension in tenure or reappointment.
Foreign Minister Qureshi apprised the PTI MPs on the ongoing situation, and the decisions undertaken by the premier. The participants voiced their confidences in Prime Minister Khan’s decision and the judiciary, hailing the judiciary as a strong pillar of the country.
Sources reveal that during a Parliamentary Party meeting of the PTI, held on Thursday, the government’s legal team has been reprimanded
However, sources claim that the MPs strongly reprimanded the government’s legal team for embarrassing the party with its “disappointing performance.” Sources added that the participants of the meeting were unanimous in their criticism of the incompetence of the government’s legal team, which almost led to a clash between state institutions.
MP Noor Alam said that the government’s legal team has turned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf into a “laughing stock” and accused the legal team of triggering conflict between state institutions.
Read more: Army Regulations Amended: Farogh Naseem Resigns to Represent Govt in Supreme Court
Major (R) Tahir Sadiq observed that the legal team has exhibited itself to be “extremely incompetent” and called for accountability of its members for embarrassing the ruling party in the Supreme Court.