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All legal formalities fulfilled, says Safdar

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Lt. Gen. Mohammad Safdar (Retd) on Friday said that all legal formalities were observed in the process of appointment of the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, and Justice Falak Sher was not ignored while making the appointment.

Talking to newsmen at the Governor's House after the oath-taking ceremony of the Chief Justice, he said that the decision regarding appointment was taken after a due consideration.

When asked the reasons for by-passing Justice Falak Sher for the office of the Chief Justice, the governor said that such decisions are generally not taken at one level, therefore, after fulfilling the legal formalities, a complete consensus was developed among the Chief Executive, the President and Punjab Governor. Besides, senior judges were also consulted. The appointment was not in violation of the March 20 judges case, he maintained.

About the district advisory boards, Gen. Safdar said that the plan has been abandoned due to the government's intention to hold local bodies elections by the year end. If boards were set up, these would have no sufficient time to show their performance, he added.

He said the government, with the participation of civil administration and the armed forces, has planned to launch a poverty alleviation programme, under which various steps, including distribution of flour, are being taken. He said that flour will be supplied to poor people, irrespective of their political affiliations.

The governor said that the Punjab government has started planning in anticipation of receiving funds out of Rs 15 billion allocations by the Federal government for poverty alleviation.