KARACHI - “The difference of opinion still exists between Chief Minister and Governor over the appointment of judges in Punjab, but the matter will be resolved very soon, “ said Attorney General of Pakistan Latif Khosa.

Talking to the media here at the Sindh High Court premises on Thursday, he said more than 100 judges were removed following the Supreme Court’s decision. The delay in appointing such a big number of judges is very serious issue, and it needs more time to be resolved because the matter is very complicated, he said.

Consultation is underway among all the stakeholders in this connection, he added. The government is focusing on appointing honest judges to provide transparent judicial system to the nation, he said, adding that the proposals about the names of the judges for appointment are under consideration by the President, Chief Justice of Pakistan, as well as, the other authorities concerned. The names of the judges will be finalised after their approval, he added.

He said the judges in the different courts of the country would be appointed stepwise. While commenting over Dr Aafia’s case in US and the detaining of innocent Pakistanis in Saudi Arab in heroin smuggling cases, the Attorney General said the government was taking keen interest to address all such issues in which the Pakistani nationals are suffering in the prisons abroad. According to him, the government has taken initiatives to provide legal assistance to the sufferers at the diplomatic level.

He said any innocent Pakistani, who is detained in prison of any country in the world, would be facilitated. He said: “It is also the duty of the Pakistan government to provide assistance to its nationals, suffering in other countries and ensure their release.”