More people abandoning the ex-CJ, now those who actually fought for his restoration last summer.
Some lawyers prefer politics over profession
ISLAMABAD: Many prominent frontline lawyers, once fighting for the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, now prefer their political interests over the collective election boycott call by the bar associations. **Zamurad Khan, Shafqat Abbasi and Sardar Shaukat Hayat are amongst those who have refused to become a part of the election boycott despite a loud call of the bar associations throughout the country. **
The SCBA President, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, and another prominent lawyer Syed Zafar Ali Shah have made formal announcement to withdraw their nomination papers contrary to the decisions of their parties, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) respectively. Along with Aitzaz, Munir A Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd and Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood, there have been a number of prominent lawyers-cum-politicians who not only participated in the post March 9 countrywide protest but also announced in the recent past to continue their fight for the restoration of pre November 3 judiciary. After PPP’s Aitzaz Ahsan, Zafar Ali Shah became the first practicing lawyer from the PML-N ranks to announce the boycott of the 2008 general elections.
**“I will contest the polls on the ticket of the Pakistan People’s Party and it is my final decision as we are entering into a seat arrangement with the PML-N,” Zamurad Khan, advocate, who had been at the forefront in the countrywide movement, said in plain words. He is contesting from NA-54 Rawalpindi. Shafqat Abbasi, contesting provincial assembly elections from Murree, has also refused to be a part of the legal fraternity’s boycott move with the contention that he would go ahead with the plan to contest the elections irrespective of the lawyers community’s collective call not to be a part of the election exercise. **
ISLAMABAD: Lawyers continued to boycott district courts on Saturday and rejected the amended constitution. They demanded restoration of deposed judges and the constitution in its original form.
They set up a hunger strike camp outside the Islamabad Bar Room. “Lifting of emergency is not what we have been demanding,” said a lawyer.
They said President Pervez Musharraf had amended the constitution for personal gains. “The tailor-made constitution and the hand-picked judiciary is to okay the wrongdoings of Musharraf,” they said.
Lawyers said “corrupt politicians” were acceptable to them if the judiciary was independent, because an independent judiciary could check corruption and provide justice to people.
Islamabad District Bar Association (IDBA) Vice President Iqbal Tanoli said the imposition of emergency and the restoration of the amended constitution aimed at justifying the unconstitutional acts of Musharraf.
“Unless the deposed judges and the 1973 constitution are restored, our struggle will continue,” Tanoli said. Rawalpindi District Bar Association President Haroonur Rasheed accused the Election Commission of being partial. “The EC has been formed to care for the government interests in the coming elections and lead the government candidates to victory,” Rashid added. “The judiciary is not a collection of buildings; it means impartial and honest people, who can deliver justice under pressure. It is beyond expectation that the judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) would do justice at any level,” he said. He praised Imran Khan for his efforts for the restoration of judges. Khan and Qazi Hussain Ahmed will address the bar tomorrow (Monday), he added.
He said politicians and the civil society were welcome to join the lawyers’ movement.
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
Journalists protest in the capital
ISLAMABAD: The journalists of the twin-cities continued their sit-in in front of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club camp office on Saturday to press the government to remove the ban on the media and restore all deposed judges. The protesting journalists said their protest would continue even on Eid day. They were also critical of the ban imposed on a private TV channel. They termed the arrest of the civil society members, political workers and media personnel under the emergency as unjustified and said the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) had caused suspension of the constitution and the fundamental rights of the people. The protesting journalists rejected all kinds of ordinances promulgated against the media. staff report
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
The only way he can prove he isnt a dictator at this point is if he steps down and reinstall ALL judges and stops putting restriction on the free media.. Otherwise he is a dictator and a tyrant..
Go goole the definition of Dictator if your not sure…
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
Im not partial to drams, wife maybe..
I dont think I need to explain the role of medi in democracies… Suffice it to say, its highly suspicious that Mushie is not allowing private channels to air live during the elections.. Obvious attempt at trying to hide poll rigging…
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
The Chief Justice cant come out because the dictator is to much of a coward to alloy him outside his home…
But remember wherver the Chief Justice went, THOUSANDS came out to support him… Does Musharaf get that kind of welcome? If Mushie went out, there would only be YOU, and Suhaib to welcome him.. Everybody else would spit on him…
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
Why don’t you make him, if that is the case. Just like tens of millions of people that are taking to the streets against the great President Musharaf’s rule.
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
thief justice was a jerk and his followers are blind, good to see people leaving him
Indeed just a couple of days ago some 85 Superior Judges belonging to the Supreme and 4 High Courts took another oath, this time on the new Musharraf PCO-amended restored constitution. That's how much loyalty they have to Ifti bhai.
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
Indeed just a couple of days ago some 85 Superior Judges belonging to the Supreme and 4 High Courts took another oath, this time on the new Musharraf PCO-amended restored constitution. That's how much loyalty they have to Ifti bhai.
Re: Prominent lawyers abandon ex-CJ and join politics
How can people take to the streets if you dictator attacks them with latti charges and tear gas?
Remeber, he doesnt allow peascful demonstrations.
And yet people are still protesting…
Pathetic chamchas…
