ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 5 November 2007 (The News): Chief Justice of
Pakistan [CJP] Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was the prime victim of
Saturday’s [constitutional and unlawful] Provisional Constitutional
Order (PCO), is confident that he would stage a comeback and has
reiterated that the present set-up is illegal and all the superior
judiciary’s latest appointments have no validity.
Talking to The News on telephone here on Sunday night, Chief Justice
Iftikhar said that the seven-member bench of the apex Court headed by
him, which had stayed the PCO and had also restrained the judges of
the superior judiciary from taking oath under the PCO, had left the
present set-up completely illegal.
He said that the judges appointed in all the provincial high courts
and the Supreme Court on Saturday and Sunday had no legal backing.
"Everything that is happening today is illegal, unconstitutional and
against the orders of the Supreme Court", Chief Justice Iftikhar said,
adding that he is sure the pre-November 3 situation would revive.
Sounding confident and relaxed, the [Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP)]
Chief Justice said that he had neither done anything wrong previously
when he was suspended on March 9 [2007] nor had he done any such thing
now. "God blessed me with success last time and I am sure that He
would again bless me and other respected judges, who had refused to
take fresh oath under the [illegal] PCO, in a similar manner this time
too", Chief Justice Iftikhar said.
Without referring to General [Pervez] Musharraf’s last night speech
that contained a ’charge sheet’ against the judiciary, the CJP said
that it was wrong to conclude that the judiciary had been lenient
towards ’terrorists’. He disclosed that he had never been lenient
towards the terrorists but it was not possible for the judges of the
Supreme Court to start punishing people without the availability of
evidence against them.
Chief Justice Iftikhar disclosed that out of his serious concern over
terrorism, he set up a committee under him that included judges from
each provincial High Court to expedite terrorism cases. Every month,
he said, the said committee used to meet and review the cases of
terrorism to ensure that there were no delays.
Referring to the Lal Masjid [Red Mosque] case, the Chief Justice
reminded that the division bench of the Supreme Court that passed
strict orders including the rebuilding of Jamia Hafsa, release of
those [illegally] arrested, payment of compensation, etc., comprised
Justice [Muhammad] Nawaz Abbasi and Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar,
both of whom have now taken fresh oath under the [unlawful] PCO.
To a question, the CJP said that he is in high morale despite being
confined by the [Musharraf Mafia] government. He said that he has full
faith in Allah [God] Almighty and believes in the struggle for the
rule of law and Constitution. "These are testing times for me from
Allah and I will react to this situation in the same manner as is
desired by the Creator of all", the CJP said, revealing that although
no one is allowed to visit him, a brother judge, who took oath under
the [illegal] PCO, visited him.
Chief Justice Iftikhar showered praises on those brother judges, both
in the apex Court and the high courts, who refused to take oath under
the [unlawful] PCO. In particular, he mentioned the name of Justice
Javed Iqbal, who despite getting the opportunity to become the CJ of
Pakistan on Saturday, refused to take oath under the [illegal] PCO.
The CJP was determined to launch yet another phase of his struggle for
an independent judiciary, rule of law and to uphold the Constitution.
He was optimistic about the success of this struggle. He hoped that
the media would also support the struggle for the rule of law and the
independence of the judiciary because only these would secure the
future of Pakistan and its people.
The Chief Justice said that he had no skeletons in the cupboard so he
was not afraid of anyone. “My faith in Allah [God] is my strength”, he
said, adding that he is sure that those fighting for the rule of law
would emerge victorious.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/print3.asp?id=10993
NOTE: Interview of Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry:
Publisher: JUSTICE PRESS - Special Report - USA
Chief Editor: Journalist SYED ADEEB
http://adeebmedia.wordpress.com/2007/05/05/iftikhar-muhammad-chaudhry
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(7) Lahore High Court Judge, Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, Urges
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(8) Dictator Musharraf is the Real Problem of Pakistan: PML-N Chief
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(9) It’s Not an Emergency, it’s the illegal Army Martial Law: PPP
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(10) BBC Urdu Webpage About the Unconstitutional, illegal Military
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– LPP: http://www.laborpakistan.org
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– PML-N: http://www.pmlusa.org
– AHRC: http://pakistan.ahrchk.net
– http://pakistan.ahrchk.net/chiefjustice/index.php
– http://www.ahrchk.net
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