ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry said the change in the oath of judges would lead the country to have the continuity of the democracy in the country, wondering why such an amendment (18th Amendment) was brought, when the judiciary had already effected a change in judges? oath to stem the path of a dictator, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The CJ Chaudhry said this while heading a SC?s 17-member larger bench hearing various identical petitions filed against some articles contained in the 18th Amendment.

He further said, ?Judiciary wants the stability of the democracy and we wish in the earnest that it was not harmed.?

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said in his remarks, ?Who will be held responsible if the system, for which the sacrifices were given, is committing suicide??

The verdict against the PCO judges has been made a part of the Constitution and the apex court said the same in its ruling, he remarked.

Earlier, Akram Sheikh Advocate, counsel of a petitioner Nadeem Ahmed continued his arguments on the second day today.

Sheikh said, ?The Constitutional Committee was not mandated to establish a commission concerning the judges? appointments. The judiciary is bound by law to have an eye on the federal and the provincial governments.?

?Eighteenth Amendment was not rendered in the regional languages.?

Citing the example of Britain, Akram said the judiciary in that country was consulted when the law relating the judges? appointment was amended; however, the Law Commission was not approached for consultation, when the same was done in Pakistan.

Akram added the Parliament approved the Amendment only in four minutes.

The court demanded the Parliamentary record regarding 18th Amendment.

Justice Saqib Nisar said, ?Article-174(A) has some good parts as well. If a five-member committee is formed, then how come the independence of judiciary would be affected.?

Urging Akram Sheikh Advocate not to classify politicians into good or bad, Justice Asif Saeed said, ?Quaid-e-Azam who gave us country was a politician and it was politicians who presented 1973 Constitution.?

The court will continue hearing the case tomorrow.

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KARACHI: Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed believes the return of former captains Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik in the squad for Asia Cup and England t

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LAHORE

THE Lahore High Court on Monday ordered PPP MNA Amir Yar Waran from NA-184, Bahawalpur, to appear in court on June 15 in connection with

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KARACHI: At least 170 boats lost contact with control room as cyclone Phet is 900 kilometers away from Karachi.

Navy helicopters have launched search operation for the missing fishermen. Meteorological Department warned fishermen against going to open sea and directed them to back up by today?s evening.

According to Met Department, the cyclone is assuming more fury 900 kilometers to southwest of Karachi. The ferocious hurricane would make landing at Pakistan?s coastline after 24 hours, as it is likely to force entry into Sindh coastal areas at night between Friday and Saturday.

The fierce storm could unleash heavy downpours couple with gale-force winds in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

Under the influence of tropical cyclone formed in Arabian Sea, Widespread rain associated with strong gusty winds is also expected in Sindh including Makran coast between Thursday to Saturday. PHET is a Thai word pronounced as Pet, meaning “Diamond”.

Focal person of Disaster Management Committee Fayyaz Abbasi said control rooms have been established in all districts of Thatta and Badin. DPO Thatta Manzoor Shaikh said schools along with coastal area have been converted into relief camps.

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HUNZA: The water outflow from Hunza Lake has reached 1400 cusecs raising fears of breakage of spillway during the next 24 hours.

According to official sources, the seepage from the spillway has reached 1400 cusecs and the water level in the lake has soared to 8.5 feet since May 29. Next 24 hours are crucial as spillway boundaries are more like to be destroyed due to immense water pressure, they added.

Home department of Gilgit Baltistan announced that Gilgit-Hunza section of Karakoram Highway will remain open for traffic till 4:00 pm today. Helicopter service is also operating in the affected areas to evacuate people and drop relief goods.

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Islamabad: More investment in the higher education sector can help promote scientific and research culture in Pakistan, Adviser to the Prime Minister

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Pakistan News

PARIS: Justine Henin?s hopes of a fifth French Open title vanished with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 fourth-round defeat by Australian seventh seed Sam Stosur on M

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Karachi

Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza told Sindh Assembly on Monday that lower staff of Education Department in the city was not paid salaries sin

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MADRID: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani visited the Spanish Parliament here on Wednesday and met President of Congress Jose Bono. During the meeting they discussed ways and means to enhance interaction amongst the parliaments of the two countries.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Syed Sumsam Ali Bukhari, ANP leader Asfand Yar Wali also accompanied the Prime Minister.

The President of the Congress - equivalent to Pakistan?s Speaker of the National Assembly appreciated the return of democracy in the country and hoped that the Parliament would continue to play its role in bringing political, economic stability and development for all sections of society.

The Prime Minister and the Speaker were of the view that greater interaction amongst the parliamentarians of the two countries would not only bring the two countries closer but also help them learn from each others? experiences.

Prime Minister Gilani said he believed in supremacy of the parliament and said it would go a long way in defining a definite role of all the state institutions where they can work in their own spheres and strengthen the country.

He said he believed in a policy of consensus and political reconciliation as it was in the best interest of the country and a way to confront the challenges of extremism and terrorism the country was facing.

Jose Bono noted the recent unanimous passage of the Constitutional Amendment Package by both houses of the parliament in Pakistan and said it reflected that the parliamentary system in the country was gaining strength.

The Spanish Congress of Deputies is the lower house of the Cortes Generales - Spain?s Parliament. It has 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation. Deputies serve four-year terms.

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KARACHI: The storm brewing up near Pakistan coastline in Arabian Sea has further intensified, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The Meteorological Department warned fishermen against going to open sea and directed them to back up by today?s evening.

According to Met Department, the cyclone is assuming more fury 950 kilometers to southwest of Karachi. The ferocious hurricane would make landing at Pakistan?s coastline after 24 hours, as it is likely to force entry into Sindh coastal areas at night between Friday and Saturday.

The Met Department said the cyclone Phet is advancing at a pace of 6 nautical miles and may turn towards Pakistan after crashing into Oman.

The fierce storm could unleash heavy downpours couple with gale-force winds in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

Under the influence of tropical cyclone formed in Arabian Sea, Widespread rain associated with strong gusty winds is also expected in Sindh including Makran coast between Thursday to Saturday.

WMO’’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) has assigned name “PHET” to the tropical cyclone formed in Arabian Sea on Tuesday evening.

PHET is a Thai word pronounced as Pet, meaning “Diamond”.

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