Islamabad, July 30 (IANS) In a step that could exacerbate tensions between the executive and judiciary, the Pakistani government has instructed its officials not to appear or depose before the Supreme Court directly, a media report said.
Henceforth, the attorney general will appear for any of these officials if they are summoned by the apex court, the Urdu daily Jang reported, citing reliable sources.
The decision was taken at a recent high-level meeting called by President Asaf Ali Zardari, where he emphasised that there should be no compromise with the supremacy of parliament and attempts to whittle away the authority of the executive should be resisted, the sources said.
The decision is likely to be endorsed at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani Monday, the sources said.
Among the officers covered under the presidential directive are defence and security officials, the inspector generals of police, Federal Intelligence Agency officials and others.
