The dictator’s brutality shows no sign of ending. The nation must stand up & kick him out for good.
http://nation.com.pk/daily/jan-2008/13/index7.php
Baghwandas put under house arrest
MUNAWAR ALAM
KARACHI - The Clifton Police intercepted former Chief Justice of Pakistan, Rana Bhagwandas when he was returning home from an oath taking ceremony at Karachi Bar Association (KBA) and put him under house arrest on Saturday.
The DSP and the SHO Clifton Police along with the police personnel stopped Rana Bhagwandas and told him that the Police had orders for his house arrest. The Police could not produce legal orders when Bhagwandas asked them to show him the house arrest orders of the court. The Police told Rana that they had no legal orders but they would provide soon.
Talking to the media, Rana confirmed his house arrest and said that no one had been allowed to enter or leave his residence. Judges and lawyers strongly condemned the house arrest of former Chief Justice, Rana Bhagwandas and demand the government to lift the house arrest orders immediately.
Talking to TheNation deposed Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, Sabihuddin strongly condemned the house arrest of Rana Bhagwandas. He said the government had been trying to pressurise the lawyers for it was afraid of the ongoing lawyers’ movement. He termed the house arrest of the former CJP as an extreme act of the government, which was not only against the constitution but also a violation of fundamental rights.
Former CJP Saeeduzaman Sidiqui said Rana Bhagwandas had not given any offensive statement in KBA meeting and it was completely illogical and illegal to put him under house arrest. He further said that everyone had the right of freedom of speech in the country and it was unjustifiable act of the government to detain the honourable citizen without written orders. He also said that most of the deposed judges were also in house arrest and government was not ready to release them. The government was afraid of them so it committed an unconstitutional act to depose the judges under the PCO.
Justice Wajihuddin said the govt had committed another illegal act to suppress the voice of the judiciary adding that it was a shameful act to detain the honourable former CJP without producing written orders. Gen-Secy KBA, Naeem Qureshi while talking to TheNation strongly condemned the brutal act of interim govt to house arrest honourable former CJP and had said that it was not only illegal but also unconstitutional act.
Meanwhile, Bhagwandas said people will soon hear the news of the restoration of deposed judges and time has come when all the deposed judges will assume their Nov 3 positions.
He said this while addressing the lawyers during the oath-taking ceremony of KBA here Saturday.
Oath taking ceremony of newly elected body of KBA took place at KBA building which was attended by a large number of lawyers while 16 deposed judges including Chief Guest, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, deposed CJ Sindh Sabihuddin and others were also present on the occasion. Former acting CJP Rana Bhagwandaas administered oath to the newly elected body of KBA.
Bhagwandas said that deposed judges would soon be restored but no time frame would be given in this regard.
He also said that PCO judges had taken their oath unconstitutionally and after the restoration of deposed judges, PCO judges would be sent home.
He also appealed to the lawyers, Civil Society Organisations and journalists to continue struggle against the unconstitutional acts of government and for the restoration of judiciary.
To a query, he said that the deposed judges after their restoration would decide the destiny of Pervez Musharraf whether he would be the president of Pakistan or not. “ I have already retired from services”, he said.
He also said that if Chauhdry Aitzaz Ahsan started bus journey for the restoration of judges after his release, judges would take part in his struggle after a joint decision as all the deposed judges supported his struggle for restoration of judiciary.
Addressing the lawyers, deposed CJ Sindh Sabhiuddin saluted the 16 Supreme Court judges who had refused to take oath under PCO and said that all the 16 SC judges had made a new history of judiciary and carved a new path for the cause of free judiciary in the country.
He also appealed to the International Community to support the Judiciary and the movement of legal fraternity and to pressurise the Government of Pervez Musharraf to step down paving the way for real democracy with independent judiciary.
