WOW!!! Read this! Shameful! What is this government upto???? This is the first time we’ve heard from the Chief Justice and I’m certain this is not the last. As anticipated the first argument he has put forward is that the SJC members must be disqualified since he does not expect a fair inquiry. Please read it.
Non functional CJP Chaudhry Iftikhar Mohammad email’s to Ather Minallah Advocate
Before the Supreme Judicial Council
(Constituted against the provisions of article 209 of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan).
Reference: no: 43 of /209
(Application for obtaining copies of documents/evidence and raising objection on the
constitutionality of SJC).
Above noted reference came up for hearing on march 9th,2007 after 6:00 pm in a indecent haste as it is evident from a news published in daily Naw-i-waqt dated March 10th, 2007 where it has been published that, chief justices, of Lahore and Karachi were brought to Islamabad in a special flight (copy of News item is appended as annex-A) The SJC on having gone through record passed on order detrimental against my interest and against the interest of institution whereby I have been restrained to work as Supreme Court judge and chief justice of Pakistan. Such powers are not available at all to a facts finding inquiry commission / council as such powers are available to courts and can be derived only from the constitutional provisions and the law.
Continue reading ‘Chief Justice Chaudhry’s first communication: An email to Advocate Ather Minallah’
I thought that instead of putting up any further comments on all that has happened it would be a good idea to quote you, the readers, on what you had to say about this incident. We’ve already had several posts about this so the comments are generally scattered. This is an attempt to compile them together. Most of what has come from you has been enlightening, interesting and, at times, funny. Some were offensive and have been removed. Please refrain from posting such comments.
Interesting point Matee raises about Rana Bhagwandas right at the bottom of this post. Why was he not nominated? Why could they not wait for him to return from India? I found it interesting to see on TV that Justice Iqbal was being congratulated by others around him during the oath taking ceremony as he embraced them with a wide smile. Obviously, he has been made the CJ by default and at a time when the nation’s judiciary is in turmoil I find it amusing that he must celebrate his personal good fortune.
Thank you for all your comments.
Tariq calls it:
Kind of cute for a country that is saying that it is a democracy. Maybe in the dreams of military.
He also finds it:
Interesting to note how this dictator wears the uniform when he wants to threaten Pakistanis, but wears a suit to impress the West.
Ahmed reiterates one of the conspiracy theories doing the rounds lately and brings into the fray Mr Sharifuddin Prizada whom he calls the ‘architect of dictatorship’.
Its clear that he hasn’t been suspended on account of any unlawful activity. Musharraf first negotiated with him for hours; what was the negotiation all about if he has done something wrong. The ultimate crime of Chief Justice was to overturn Steel Mills case and summon the army agencies on human rights violations.
Naeem Bukhari letter was part of plan by Sharif Pirzada (the “architect of dictatorship”).
Continue reading ‘What you had to say about the CJ’s dismissal’
I thought that instead of putting up any further comments on all that has happened it would be a good idea to quote you, the readers, on what you had to say about this incident. We’ve already had several posts about this so the comments are generally scattered. This is an attempt to compile them together. Most of what has come from you has been enlightening, interesting and, at times, funny. Some were offensive and have been removed. Please refrain from posting such comments.
Interesting point Matee raises about Rana Bhagwandas right at the bottom of this post. Why was he not nominated? Why could they not wait for him to return from India? I found it interesting to see on TV that Justice Iqbal was being congratulated by others around him during the oath taking ceremony as he embraced them with a wide smile. Obviously, he has been made the CJ by default and at a time when the nation’s judiciary is in turmoil I find it amusing that he must celebrate his personal good fortune.
Thank you for all your comments.
Tariq calls it:
Kind of cute for a country that is saying that it is a democracy. Maybe in the dreams of military.
He also finds it:
Interesting to note how this dictator wears the uniform when he wants to threaten Pakistanis, but wears a suit to impress the West.
Ahmed reiterates one of the conspiracy theories doing the rounds lately and brings into the fray Mr Sharifuddin Prizada whom he calls the ‘architect of dictatorship’.
Its clear that he hasn’t been suspended on account of any unlawful activity. Musharraf first negotiated with him for hours; what was the negotiation all about if he has done something wrong. The ultimate crime of Chief Justice was to overturn Steel Mills case and summon the army agencies on human rights violations.
Naeem Bukhari letter was part of plan by Sharif Pirzada (the “architect of dictatorship”).
Continue reading ‘What you had to say about the CJ’s dismissal’
President Musharraf, head of the executive branch of the government in Pakistan, has dismissed Iftikhar Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Mr. Musharraf has summarily dismissed him without sharing any evidence against the outgoing Chief Justice with the country at large. I think the manner in which this step was taken was abominable and is indeed beyond reproach. Now: how can anyone have the necessary confidence in the judiciary of Pakistan when the highest officer of the judiciary is at the mercy of the government in power? Judiciary cannot operate if it is not independent and needs its independence to dispense justice in a proper, equitable and fair manner. It appears that Mr. Chaudhry was sacked not because of his misuse of power but for standing up and judging against the will of power. Continue reading ‘Chief Justice: Innocent Until Proven Guilty’
Some of our readers have already commented on this here. However, it would be premature to comment at this early stage as no details have been given.
The facts are that the President has suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and appointed Justice Javed Iqbal as acting chief justice. He has taken this action on the basis of “numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the chief justice of Pakistan,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported. Obviously, this was after the CJ was given an opportunity to give a satisfactory explanation to the President and the Prime Minister.
We had posted an open letter by Advocate Naeem Bokhari a few days ago which criticised his behaviour towards the Pakistan Bar Association. Was there any truth in it? Or was it part of a planned, staged and smoothly executed, albeit unpleasant, removal?
Continue reading ‘…and the jury is out on CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry!’
I still haven’t read it myself, but given the large circulation that it has received I thought it would be best to post it before I added my own comments. I will comment on it in due course once I have had a chance to go over it.
Update: I just read it. Please do read it in its entirety as it is brilliant. My comment follows the post.
Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Pakistan
Islamabad
Pakistan
My Lord:
I write this letter as an Officer of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; as an Advocate enrolled in the apex Court since 1984 and in the High Courts since 1972; as an Attorney who has paid more income tax from his earnings in the legal profession than many of my friends, colleagues and seniors elevated to the Bench; and as a stake-holder in the dispensation of justice, intimately and vitally interested in the functioning of the Supreme Court.
Continue reading ‘Advocate Naeem Bokhari’s letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’
