Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Saad_UAE · March 14, 2007, 2:47am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Musharraf should not let these ghundas go free....They should all be punished ,just like Nawaz & company, BB Dubaiwali & Altaf moron.....Inn subb ki khul karr chitroul honi chahiyay....

JaanBaazz · March 14, 2007, 2:50am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Ch. Shujaat is a smart man. He has come to US when things are getting hot for his lota gang.

Mr_Fraudia · March 14, 2007, 3:05am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

chitrol zindah baad!!!!!!

theinsider · March 14, 2007, 3:14am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Agree 110% with you

You have remember that there are people out there who have major stake in present Govt well being

what could be the reason?
let me think $$$$

Sa1eem · March 14, 2007, 3:53am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Politicians are keeping away from President, nice that they are doing. Does it make any difference? Actually what I have read is that after coming from Central Asia, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz going to ask President that he wants to go on holiday too. :)

What I feel, bigger and an unexpected chitrol is on the way in Pakistan. Seems all preparation is complete and five years of democratic experiment and uncontrolled media freedom is at the end. I do not know (just guessing :)) but let hope that the change, if and when it would come, it would be for the better for all and all goes well. [Thats just a feeling]

Sa1eem · March 14, 2007, 4:07am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Well, only SJC will be able to decide that CJ is innocent or guilty. As far as I am concerned, he is innocent until proven guilty and that proving has to be after the investigation of SJC. Nevertheless, his case is sent to SJC for enquiry and suspension is/was absolutely right.

But development after this event, depending on where it ends, is probably going to have a severe consequence for many that have politicised the issue, and they may not like the consequence. Unfortunately, it seems that people in media would also not like the consequence.

I feel that opposition and government are going towards confrontation that would derail whole democratic process that was slowly developing in Pakistan. [Again, that is just my feeling]

Khehkeshan · March 14, 2007, 4:47am

Re: Pakistan’s top judge is suspended (Merged)

The democratic process was a farce to begin with. Musharraf just made an obviosuly illegal action that not even his biggest lotas are ready to support. Minus those on GS, but they don’t count.

And here we have the acting CJ telling us the obvious because the President has no authority to suspend the CJP without getting a decision from the council.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\14\story_14-3-2007_pg1_3

Chaudhry is CJP, says acting CJ

ISLAMABAD: Acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal said on Tuesday that Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is still the chief justice and he will be provided the opportunity of a full defence before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). “I will order a judicial inquiry into the incident of police torture on protesting lawyers in Lahore,” the acting CJP said when a number of lawyers surrounded the rostrum in anger to protest against their manhandling by the police at the main SC entrance. The acting CJP was hearing routine cases in the SC Bench No 1. staff report

Khehkeshan · March 14, 2007, 4:50am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

It's not an excuse, but the reality when even the the CJ of Pakistan cannot get justice, of course the masses will not worry about such feckless laws. Those in glass houses should not throw stones and this applies very well to both the army and the politicians.

Khehkeshan · March 14, 2007, 4:59am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

That's an interesting leap of logic.

1) Can you tell us the specific charges the government has leveled against the CJ?

2) How did you come to the conclusion that th CJ is corrupt? What evidence have you seen, what findings of a council or tribunal are you quoting to make that assertion?

3) Do you know how the SJC system functions or is your knowledge of the constitution based on what you have read over the past 2 days? I have yet to read anything from any constitutional expert that supports Musharraf's actions of trying to suspend the Chief Justice before even the charges are seen! Let's not even bring up the issue of house arrest, confinement and manhandling by the agencies.

Khehkeshan · March 14, 2007, 5:13am

Re: Pakistan’s top judge is suspended (Merged)

Some interesting details from dawn. http://www.dawn.com/2007/03/14/top1.htm

Finally, when he appeared before the SJC, he submitted a four-page statement which, among other things, called for reconstitution of the judicial council by excluding three members against whom he had raised objections.

The SJC then decided to serve a notice on Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan for March 16 to respond to the objections, Hamid Khan told reporters after an hour-long proceeding.

Headed by the acting Chief Justice, Justice Javed Iqbal, the SJC comprised Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Sardar Mohammed Raza Khan, Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry and Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Sabhiuddin Ahmed.

**In his objections, the ‘suspended’ chief justice stated that the acting chief justice had been appointed contrary to Article 180 of the Constitution which provided that the acting chief justice could be appointed when the office of the chief justice becomes vacant.

Moreover, under Article 209 of the Constitution, reference against the chief justice could be heard only by the senior-most judge who, in the ongoing situation, is Justice Rana Bhagwandas.**

There was no urgency to convene the SJC meeting in the absence of Justice Bhagwandas who is abroad till March 22, said the statement.

It added that a reference was pending against Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar before the SJC in a case of financial misappropriation in the Shah Latif Bhatai University, Khairpur. Justice Dogar had administered oath to the acting chief justice on Friday last. According to the statement, the LHC chief justice could not sit in the council since more than one reference of misconduct was pending against him before the SJC. He said the LHC chief justice had also developed strong hostilities against him as he had not accepted his recommendations of advocates and judicial officers for elevation as judge of the high court. Moreover, his elevation as the judge of the apex court was also opposed by him in August 2005 for some reasons which could not be divulged now.

“We are also not on speaking terms with each other,” Justice Chaudhry said and demanded a public inquiry to apprise the people of the nature of allegations against him.

He said he had little doubt that if the inquiry was fair, he would be exonerated of all charges.

In his statement, he also mentioned the ‘sufferings’ he and his family, including his seven-year-old child, had been undergoing since March 9.

**He said his official residence was besieged by heavy contingent of police and agency sleuths, without any justification. Moreover, all vehicles in his use had been taken away through a lifter, he said, adding that only one vehicle had been brought back by a lifter, and that too without keys.

The Supreme Court staff, attached with the chief justice, was also reportedly missing and had been kept at some unknown place.**

“I believe that they have been detained just to fabricate evidence against me,” the statement by Justice Chaudhry said. “I have learnt that my chamber has also been sealed and reportedly files have been handed over to the ISI,” he alleged.

Due to heavy deployment, the statement said, the chief justice or his family has not been allowed to go outside. Similarly, no one was allowed to meet him freely, he said.

“Even my colleagues have no access. And whenever they wanted to visit, they were asked to wait for a considerable period of time during which permission was sought from high-ups,” he said.

He said his children were also not allowed to go to school, college and university; and facilities like telephone, cable and Internet, as well as basic amenities had been denied.

Khehkeshan · March 14, 2007, 5:16am

Re: Pakistan’s top judge is suspended (Merged)

In some wonderful news for Saleem and roadrunner. “Strong” show of support by PML(Lotas)!

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\14\story_14-3-2007_pg1_9

PML rallies to back Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League on Tuesday rallied in front of President’s House on Jinnah Avenue prior to the appearance of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). Some 200 people, mostly from Islamabad slums and members of the PML youth wing, expressed support for Musharraf’s decision to file a reference against Chaudhry. staff report

But an actual amazing thing that is indeed happening. Majority of Pakistanis are united now against the illegal action!

A time to step back

The nation finds itself in a singularly unenviable position today. A lot can be debated on who is behind things coming to where they have. For instance, the footage shown on television of dozens of Islamabad police constables literally trying to herd ‘suspended’ Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry into a waiting car so that he does not walk to the Supreme Court building. Or the uncalled for and unprovoked lathi-charge by the police on a group of lawyers holding a peaceful protest in Lahore on March 12. And as if opening a front with the lawyers’ community was not enough, the government — or certainly the hawks in it — seem to have decided that the media and the press must be taken head on as well with reports that at least two private TV channels were rebuked by the government for showing footage of policemen attacking the Lahore rally and of PPP Senatar Latif Khosa bleeding profusely from the head after being hit by a police lathi. On the same day that this happened, it was reported that the state’s electronic media regulator warned two private channels to stop relaying footage of policemen beating up the lawyers at the Lahore rally. A petition has also been filed by a lawyer with the Lahore High Court pleading the latter to direct the electronic media regulator to order private TV channels not to show footage that compromises the national interest or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order.

Unfortunately, it is seems that government in this country have not learnt a thing from the past. Would the heavens have fallen if Justice Chaudhry was allowed to walk on foot? Surely, those at the helm of affairs do understand that this overbearing treatment of him and his family has elevated the status of the ‘suspended’ chief justice over and above what even the government could have ever imagined. It’s almost as if he is being made a hero in the eyes of ordinary Pakistanis and the more that perception grows (and it is), the greater will be the problems for the government. As for the attack on the lawyers in Lahore, it was unjust and blame for that lies completely with the Punjab government, especially since it was entirely unprovoked with the police initiating it on a group of lawyers exercising their right to demonstrate peacefully.

**The opening of these new fronts is only going to exacerbate the situation. Often, in times like this, events have or acquire a momentum of their own and then things begin to get out of control — even of the government. One hopes that that stage has not been reached where this kind of situation arises. Censoring the media does not help and is not even possible in today’s world — TV channels may be barred but people are not fools and there are many other ways such as the Internet and the new rage, blogs, of disseminating information (after all, SMS messages sent by one of Justice Iftikhar’s children and an email sent purportedly by him have figured in how ordinary people got to know of what was going on). Surely, all this cannot be blocked and censored — and if it is, Pakistan will become a laughing stock in front of the entire world and the claim of ‘real democracy’ will become a joke unto itself.

If the government cannot withdraw the petition filed against Justice Chaudhry with the Supreme Judicial Council, it must at the very least allow him unhindered access to go wherever he wishes and meet whomever he wants. Also, the lawyers are attacking — as they have said quite rightly — not because it is about a single senior judge but because the shabby manner in which the ‘suspended’ chief justice has been treated (those government spokesmen, many of them ministers, who say that this is not the case and that he is a free man should instead see the TV footage of hordes of policemen literally preventing Justice Iftikhar from even walking in a straight line on Tuesday afternoon) and they equate it with an undiluted attack on the judiciary. This view is shared by most Pakistanis as well — opposition to what the government is doing cuts across class, region, ethnic and religious lines with conservatives, liberals, the poor, the rich and those from the middle classes, everyone expressing extreme disapproval of the government’s actions and rallying to Justice Iftikhar’s defence. There is still time for the government to step back and let the law take its own course. After all, that’s what one keeps hearing from government spokesmen — that the matter is now before the judges that make up the SJC.**

boota · March 14, 2007, 5:50am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

mushy all the way..

i support for a life time presidency for him and plz no constitution from now on..
anyone.? roadrunner jee?

Iconoclast · March 14, 2007, 5:50am

Re: Pakistan’s top judge is suspended (Merged)

These couple of pathetic Mush lovers are not even a drop in ocean. Look at the BBC website and not a single person in his favor.
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/ws/thread.jspa?threadID=5536

Iconoclast · March 14, 2007, 5:51am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

The

Iconoclast · March 14, 2007, 5:51am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

I want to ask these funny kids who have become so fond of constitution overnight, when Tind (Nawaz) removed Mush as COA staff, did he have the authority to do so under constitution or not?

Saad_UAE · March 14, 2007, 5:55am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

^BBC Website is owned by Indian Phitoos...They won't miss a chance to destroy Pakistani Progress under Musharraf's Government ....You were going to be a Bankrupt state in 1999...Musharraf & company has raised your assets to 51 Billion Dollars...& has kept it pace with India...
Agar bhookay nangon ki tarhan rehana hai tou raho...I guess you guys prefer to live like that under BB Dubaiwali or Nawaz and company...

boota · March 14, 2007, 5:56am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

LOLZ murghay kee aik taang..
and u think the reference that angered our civilized PM (the steel mills case) was a shining example of TRUE DEMOCRACY?
PLZ this excuse has been used and used and ABused by every government that has come to power and every new Conqueror arrives , beating that drum of default and Qaumi khazana..
and where was the president and other PILLARS of the state at that time..were they sleeping and why didn;t they take notice of that there and then
and well yes..its accepted that army can take control..why? coz we pay our taxes to feed them to save our BORDERS. At least i pay my taxes.

Ali_Syed · March 14, 2007, 6:06am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

yes...now its the time when if u say something against mqm, you'd end up in sacks...

Iconoclast · March 14, 2007, 6:13am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Its the comments made by people on BBC website, all of whom are Pakistanis.

As for being bankrupt in 99 and raising assets nw is concerned, even if a dead rat was PM or President the same wud have happened. Whether it wud have been BB, Nawaz, Jamali or General wud'ave been in power, he wud have followed orders from Bush and Dollars wud have flown Pakistan's way, just like they have post 9/11.

If BB or Nawaz rot in jail for corruption i wud be very happy, if Chaydharies, Faisal Saleh, Sherpaoo wud be brought to ustice, i wud be very happy.

What did Musharraf do, he let Nawaz go out of country on deal, his party PML Q, is making alliance with BB. So don't give me this trash of Mush cleaning up the Paki politics.

Iconoclast · March 14, 2007, 6:18am

Re: Pakistan's top judge is suspended (Merged)

Things are always funny in Pakistan, its just a few days that PIA has been banned from several countries, yet, we do not hear of any investigation on corruption in PIA, but a letter by a crooked lawyer is enough to suspend a CJ. Even the contents of letter have been declared false by people qouted in that letter like Fakhruddin Jee Ibrahim and Sher Afgan Niazi.