Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was elected unanimously by the whole of the National Assembly. How can the EX-CJ Iftikhar Chaudhury talk about challenging the supremacy of the elected parliament? PM Gilani should have nothing to worry about. It is not as if the EX CJ is being restored. Is he?
Iftikhar hints at PM’s trial for inaction
Iftikhar hints at PM’s trial for inaction
Sunday, January 18, 2009
By Shamim Bano
KARACHI: Deposed chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday declared that once the sacked judiciary was restored to the November 2 position, legal proceedings would be initiated against the prime minister for not taking action against those who had illegally sacked the judges.
Addressing the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) late on Saturday, the deposed chief justice said that the very survival of the country depended on the supremacy of the judiciary and the rule of law and urged lawyers and the civil society to continue their struggle for the reinstatement of deposed judges. He said that the judiciary under his stewardship had taken several suo moto actions and public interest litigations because they believed in the rule of law.
He said that with the cooperation and support of lawyers and the civil society, their struggle would succeed and the foundation of the rule of law would be laid in the country. He warned that if people did not get justice, they would come on streets.
Before the deposed CJP’s address, the KBA function was addressed by Aitzaz Ahsan, President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ali Ahmed Kurd and others. Ahsan said that Perwez Musharraf sacked the judges because he wanted to prolong his illegal rule. Earlier, the deposed CJP was awarded a rousing reception upon his arrival at the Karachi Airport. Members of the legal fraternity, NGOs, civil society activists and political parties pariticipated in the reception.