Re: Deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry reaches Karachi
Karachiites cheer deposed CJ amid ban on live TV coverage
Karachiites cheer deposed CJ amid ban on live TV coverage
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
SCBA VP dies during Justice Iftikhar’s reception; lawyers announce three-day mourning
By our correspondents
KARACHI: Thousands of cheering lawyers, students, rights organisations and activists of political parties accorded a warm welcome to deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on his arrival here on a two-day visit.
But on the other hand, the Sindh High Court administration has imposed a ban on live transmission of TV channels, entry of political parties’ leaders, activists, civil society members in SHC building for today (Wednesday). On Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA)’s invitation, the deposed chief justice is to inaugurate a commemorative plaque on main door of the SHCBA, which is named as Justice Iftikhar Hall.
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Hamid Khan, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Ansari, Athar Minallah and Sardar Ismatullah Khan accompanied the deposed chief justice.
They were received at the Karachi airport by Sindh High Court (SHC) deposed Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Mushir Alam, Justice Maqbool Baqar, Fakhruddin G Ibrahim, Ghulam Rabbani, SHCBA President Rashid A Razvi and KBA President Mehmudul Hasan.
A large number of activists belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islami, PML-N, PTI, Sunni Tehrik, Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Labour Party, Islamic Lawyers Forum, People Lawyers Forum, People Resistance and Shabab-e-Milli raised slogans, demanding restoration of the judiciary.
They also criticised the PPP government for not honouring its commitment made to the nation in the Murree declaration regarding restoration of the deposed judges within 30 days. A visibly happy Aitzaz thanked the people of Karachi for supporting the lawyers’ struggle. The gathering, after arrival of the deposed chief justice, converted into a big procession that escorted the chief justice’s vehicle at Shahrah-e-Faisal.
Supreme Court Bar Association Vice-President Imdad Ali Awan, who was to drive Chaudhry Iftikhar’s vehicle, was rushed to hospital after he suffered a heart attack but died on way. SHCBA President Rashid A Razvi later drove the chief justice to his hotel.
Several camps were set up at Shahrah-e-Faisal by different political parties. People showered the deposed chief justice’s caravan with rose petals. The convoy took almost five hours to reach the hotel near the PIDC building where the deposed chief justice would stay — a mere 25-minute drive from the airport in normal circumstances.
Strict security measures were in place with police mobiles escorting the deposed chief justice’s vehicle. Talking to newsmen, Iftikhar Chaudhry’s Spokesman Athar Minallah said the lawyers’ movement is for stability in the country and the entire nation wanted the judiciary to be restored to the Nov 2, 2007 position.
Former SCBA President Munir A Malik said people’s warm response was extraordinary despite the fact that arrangements were made in a short span of time. He said today’s event prove that Karachiites are peace-loving people and cannot be cowed down by events like the May 12 mayhem of last year.
Justice (R) Fakhruddin G Ibrahim said the judicial system has totally collapsed and only the deposed chief justice and his brother judges could save it. The SHC administration has also restrained the deposed CJ, Bar leaders from entering SHC building through judges’ gates for today’s programme by issuing direction that no person would be allowed to enter from judges gate except the SHC judges.
SHCBA General Secretary Munirur Rehman said he received a letter from Registrar of the SHC who has issued direction for the Wednesday programme. He said the SHC administration also imposed ban on live transmission of TV channels from the SHC building for today.
The SHC registrar said police personnel will be deployed in uniform and plain clothes for the safety of the court premises and its inmates. SHCBA President Rasheed A Razvi condemned restriction imposed by the SHC administration and said local administration has allowed entry of civil society members after personal search. He said Wednesday programme will be held as per schedule.
Meanwhile, Vice President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and President Sukkur High Court Bar Association Imdad Ali Awan passed away due to cardiac failure at Karachi airport where he had gone to receive deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
Imdad Ali Awan, who was to drive the vehicle of the CJ on his Karachi visit, complained of chest pain soon after he sat at the wheel and was taken to airport dispensary for medical treatment. Later, he was shifted to private hospital but he passed away.
His Namaz-e-Janaza was offered at Masjid-e-Bilal situated at Khayaban-e-Ittehad area Karachi. Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, deposed CJ of Sindh High Court Sabihuddin Ahmed, deposed Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Maqbool Baqar, retired Supreme Court Judge Ghulam Rabbani, President Supreme Court Bar Association Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, President, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Rasheed A Razvi, President Karachi Bar Association Mehmoodul Hasan, Pakistan Bar Council members Abul Inam, Hafiz Abul Rehman Ansari, PPP leader Raza Rabbani, Bar leaders and others attended the funeral prayer.
Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and the legal fraternity expressed condolences over the sad and untimely demise of SCBA Vice President Imdad Ali Awan. They said Imdad Awan devoted his life for noble cause and legal fraternity has suffered great loss due to his death.
Former President of SCBA Hamid Khan said Imdad Awan’s services for the independence of judiciary would be remembered forever. He said Awan was the Bar president who invited deposed CJ to visit Sukkur Bar after the March 9, 2007 reference. He said Imdad Awan was a great leader of legal fraternity and did not deviate from principle stand of legal fraternity over the judiciary issue.
SHCBA President Rasheed A Razvi said that Imdad Awan’s death was a great loss and his services will always be remembered. The body of Imdad Awan was shifted to Sukkur for burial. He was also elected as Senator from Pakistan People’s Party in 1990.
Meanwhile, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Imdad Ali Awan, President Sukkur High Court Bar and senior lawyer and condoled with the members of the bereaved family.
In a condolence message, Zardari said that Awan’s death was a great loss to party and the lawyers’ community.Expressing sympathy with the bereaved family, he prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul and patience for his family members to bear the loss with fortitude.
APP adds: The Sindh Bar Council on Tuesday announced a three-day mourning in the courts throughout Sindh on the demise of former Senator and currently Vice President Supreme Court Bar Association from Sindh, Imdad Ali Awan advocate.
The SBC made this announcement at a meeting held with its Vice Chairman, Muzaffar Ali Leghari, in the chair. The meeting expressed deep sorrow over the death of senior lawyer, Imdad Awan and sympathised with bereaved family.
A decision was also made that the works of all courts in Sindh will remain suspended as a mark of respect following the demise of Imdad Awan. SBC has also called upon all the Bar associations to arrange condolence meetings.
