Aitzaz, Munir win Asian Human Rights Commission Award
Our staff reporter
LAHORE - The Board of Directors of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has announced to grant its third Asian Human Rights Defender Award jointly to president Supreme Court Bar Association Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and his predecessor in this office, Munir A Malik.
The award will be awarded to them in recognition of their historic leadership role in fighting against military dictatorship and spearheading the protest against the unconstitutional removal and illegal confinement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary on March 9, 2007.
The lawyers’ movement has attracted interest and immense support of people from all walks of life in Pakistan and the scheme to remove the chief justice was thwarted, although he was again illegally removed from his post, along with 55 other senior judges, including 13 from the Supreme Court when Musharraf seized power through an unconstitutional declaration of emergency rule at the end of the year, the board noted.
It said the lawyers, judges and others had been making great sacrifices to defend the independence of judiciary as a last bastion against the otherwise unchallenged power of the military. The third Asian Human Rights Defenders Award has thus been awarded to these two leading lawyers both in recognition of their personal sacrifices and for representing the entire movement against dictatorship in Pakistan.
It observed that during the fight for the independence of judiciary Muneer Malik was arrested and dragged, which caused him to suffer renal failure. Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan has been kept under detention since the emergency was imposed on November 3, 2007. Their leadership, courage and unswerving commitment to their profession show their sincerity with the cause. The board has also acknowledged the spirit of judges who refused to bow down to the immoral pressure of military force. The lawyers and these judges stand today as the representatives of a civilised society in stark contrast to the barbarism and primitive feudal orders by a dictator and his allies, it said
The commission has again called upon the international community to support the people of Pakistan at a time when they are facing a real threat of being subjected to the sole authority of a merciless and self-interested executive authority. We call upon others to join lawyers struggle for the independence of judiciary and justice.
Re: Aitzaz, Munir win Asian Human Rights Commission Award
May Allah bless President Musharraf for not hanging the corrupt and theif judges. Why media is free why they are publishing such news. Uff why mushi don't use security services to kick the asses of judges why why why.... :(
Re: Aitzaz, Munir win Asian Human Rights Commission Award
The brilliant son of soil is a living legend. The ideology and freedom this guy (and his colleagues) gave to the country is priceless. Pakistan is proud of people like Munir Malik.
:jhanda:
His gems from the statement.
The lawyers’ movement has four fronts, we have won 2 already. First this movement has changed the minds of the Pakistani nation *(which never had full faith in justice system) *as to what is justice and who can provide it to them. Secondly, it has give courage to the judges to stand strong against the forced demands of the government to accept the butchered constitution (PCO) and save their jobs. Majority of the judges have refused to bow against the dictatorship *(which is not a norm). *
Now the next two stages and the achievements would be to change politicians’ thinking and make them look towards the needs of the public and listen to their voices to get elected, instead of looking at super powers for the short cuts. And the fourth front is to remind military of its original duty and send back to barracks and borders and bar them from interfering in civil matters.
He has summerized the direction needs to be taken to save Pakistan. These are like prerequisites of rescue Pakistan mission.
Re: Aitzaz, Munir win Asian Human Rights Commission Award
None of us are perfect yaar. Beside, he already issued an apology for his statement in the SC.
I know, I saw that apology statement in the SC but to me thats a difference between leader and somebody else that even in heat of moment you don't lose your control.
A well deserved recognition for them.
