Govt to take all steps to ensure rule of law: Farogh

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem Friday said the government will take all steps to ensure rule of law in the country.

Talking to media after attending a seminar organized by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) titled 'Justice A R Cornelius: Services and Contributions to Justice System of Pakistan,' he said the process of accountability will continue unabated with the ongoing pace.

He explained that names of only those people have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), who were involved in cases and under suspicion that they would not return, if traveled abroad.

The minister said under the law it was not mandatory to hear the stance of a suspects before placing their names on the ECL.

Elaborating the procedure, Naseem said recommendations of departments to place someone, even a lawmaker, on the ECL, are submitted to the federal cabinet by the interior ministry.

He said the people named in the joint investigation report will get the chance to defend themselves in court of law.

When asked about the JIT report leak, he said appearing of the report contents in media will not affect the case proceedings.

In response to another question, Naseem said “Khawaja Asif’s name did not come under discussion during the cabinet meeting."

Earlier, the minister paid tribute to Justice A R Cornelius for his meritorious services in the judicial system, saying that no one can point finger on his honesty.

He said despite the fact that Justice A R Cornelius was a Christian but he always advocated for handing down Islamic sentences in the criminal cases.