Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday decided to appoint Babar Awan law minister minutes after his licence as lawyer was suspended by the Supreme Court, a move that may further escalate tension betw-een the executive and the judiciary.
Federal minister for religious affairs Khurshid Shah said it has been decided to make Mr Awan the new federal minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs. Mr Shah, who is close to the President, added, “Law minister Ma-ula Bakhsh Chandio has resigned to make way for Babar Awan to hold the portfolio.” [Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, meanwhile, faced the possibility of another case being filed against him for alleged misuse of authority, PTI repo-rts. Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau is considering filing a case of alleged misuse of authority against Mr Gilani in connection with the appointment of Adnan Khwaja as chairman of the state-run Oil and Gas Development Company even though Kh-waja had already been convicted by a court. Mr Gilani could face 14 years in jail if convicted. NAB chairman Fasih Bokhari told the News daily action will be taken in cases of alleged illegal appointments made on the orders of the PM.]
The Supreme Court has temporarily revoked Mr Awan’s licence to practice law over his “inappropriate” and “unfair” behaviour in court in the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto reference case.