Who hasn’t been disturbed by the events taking place in the past couple of weeks or so? With the Chief Justice of Pakistan being suspended, a popular television show banned and the offices of a television network attacked by police, one can’t help but what exactly is going on. One thing, though, is for sure — even those who claim to be extremely disinterested in the affairs of this country have had plenty to think about, given the recent developments on the political front.
Of course, there is a majority which is already politically conscious, though they may not necessarily belong to any specific party. The concern of such people is their country only and in the face of all these events, these people have taken to the internet. Proud Pakistanis is the website serving as central point of its first movement entitled “White Band for Justice.” Read the rest of this entry »
Filed Under (Pakistan) by Teeth Maestro on March-21-2007
Start Quote
BEFORE THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL, PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD
Reference by the President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan under Article 209 of the Constitution
Respectfully sheweth:
The facts and circumstances necessitating this Reference by the president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (”Pakistan”) under Article 209 of the Constitution, briefly stated, are as under:
I. The Prime Minister of Pakistan on receipt of information, from several sources, with respect to the conduct of Mr. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (hereinafter referred to as, “the learned judge”) was pleased to advise the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to “direct” the Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan, in exercise of its powers under Article 209 of the Constitution, to inquire into the matter and report to the President whether the learned judge has been guilty of misconduct and further, whether he should be removed from office? Read the rest of this entry »
Filed Under (Pakistan) by Teeth Maestro on March-20-2007
Voice of America did a one hour round table discussion calling in four different bloggers from across the world into a telephonic round table discussion
The guests were Adil Najam of Pakistaniat.com, Ramla Akhtar of Next> by Ramla blog, Hakim of micropakistan.org and wrapping up the talk with myself as the fourth speaker. The host was Murtaza Solangi, the hour long discussion was quite interesting with a wide range of topics being discussion from the blogging situation in Pakistan to censorship and also the impact of blogging in the CJP crisis
Filed Under (Pakistan) by Teeth Maestro on March-17-2007
Ever since the attack on the Judiciary in Pakistan, last Friday (post) practically the entire country is abuzz with a number of confusing questions of which probably the least addressed is when does Pervaiz Musharraf enforce a proper Martial Law. In my opinion Pakistan is already under a full fledged Martial Law since 1999 but disguised as a torjan horse titled Enlightened Moderation.
Police escort Manhandling the
Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, A picture not aired in the media outlets in Pakistan
A number critics say that it just can’t happen, while many believe that martial law is inevitable. I belong the latter group, in my opinion Musharraf had been buttering the people of Pakistan for the past year in preparations to make them swallow the presidency pill for another five years. The stage was prepared when he successfully masterminded a thumbs up from Uncle Sam, it was during his US-Book Tour visit that Pakistan went through an interesting roller coaster ride, I had protested back then that the simple revelation of Pakistan being bombed back into the stone ages should have been enough for any decent Pakistani leader to walk off, but not Musharraf as he was their for a more personal reason far more important then Pakistan. Millions back home reacted simply How Dare They?. It was actually Musharraf who expertly handled the ABC interview threw out this ball-busting comment to force George Bush onto the back foot and then was able to pull out the trump card right from the grasp of Uncle Sam getting himself a sexy peck on the cheek and a pat on the behind for a job well done. Musharraf finished the cake with a hilarious gig with Jon Stewart where he displayed stand-up comedy type of showmanship but the icing was when he got Bush to publicly plug his autobiography on live TV, asking people to ‘Buy the Book’, literally a dream come true for any aspiring writer.
Filed Under (Pakistan) by redsnapper on March-14-2007
The protest continues. The indignation and disgust that the nation felt has not subsided. Memberships of lawyers and ministers who gave statements against the Chief Justice continue to be cancelled by bar associations. After the huge response from the bar, action from the benches (judges) has also started trickling through. A Civil Judge somewhere from Bahawalpur (source: Aaj TV) has resigned in protest.
Is there a precedent of such commotion at this scale before ? When Pakistan was dismembered in 1971, there was a disgusting quiet in West Pakistan. People took this as an act of fate that was bound to happen. When Bhutto was hanged, no one moved. Not even his die-hard fans. When various governments were dismissed by military or Presidents supported by military, the acts elicited no more of an interest than a morning coffee discussion over the news headlines.
But this time it is different. People are reacting. The PM has cut short his visit to return to Pakistan this evening. A sure sign of panic in government ranks. Scared voices from within the government (Pervez Elahi, for one) have already started saying that this government will not fall because of their recent action.
Justice (ret) Fakhruddin Ibrahim, a respected man who has surely seen many ups and downs in the country, has described the situation aptly. With his voice shaking with sincerity and emotion, he implored everyone to realize that this is a “defining moment” for the people of this country.
THE NEWS - ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar repeatedly hurled naked abuse in a live Voice of America (VoA) radio discussion on chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s deposition, which was heard worldwide on Monday night.There were three participants in the telephonic discussion — Wasi Zafar, constitutional expert Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations, The News, Islamabad.Ansar joined the talk a bit late and said he fears to say anything because of Wasi Zafar’s peculiar temperament and track record. As he uttered these remarks, the law minister came in and said whoever gives him a “big arm”, he would do the same to his family.
As Wasi Zafar heard Ansar joining the programme, he lost his cool and started hurling abuse. He was angered because of a story headlined “Law minister facing long arm of the law” that Ansar had filed and was published in The News on August 13, 2005. It said the prime minister and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would decide the fate of the law minister for his son’s thrashing of a PIA passenger in his presence at the Karachi airport.
Earlier in the programme, Aitzaz Ahsan had also threatened to break off due to the foul language of the law minister. But he was persuaded by the host to continue. Ansar regretted the repetition of the abuse by Wasi Zafar and said the world was listening to the kind of language the minister was using.
A caller from Pishin, Naeem Taseer, also wondered what question should be asked from this kind of a minister. Later, Wasi Zafar vehemently denied on Geo that he hurled any abuse on the VoA programme. However, the audio played by the TV network gave a lie to his assertion.
The minister again poured his anger on Ansar, saying he was corrupt and a blackmailer, who gets money for his stories. In the same programme, Ansar said there was a serious problem in the minister’s personality. He said the high-ups should take notice of such buffoons who are bringing a bad name to Pakistan.
The other day, the Jaranwala Bar Association cancelled Wasi Zafar’s basic membership and recommended to the Pakistan Bar Council that his licence should be revoked. Wasi Zafar earned notoriety when he threatened a chairman of the Capital Development Authority, who had refused to give a concession to him regarding an industrial plot. He and his sons had also thrashed a person at the Karachi airport in 2005, who objected to the minister’s sons jumping the queue. Later, he slapped a waiter of a five-star hotel in Islamabad over a trivial matter.
The SJC on having gone through record passed an 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.
In my understanding and as per the interpretation of the constitution under article 209 no such powers are available to the council as it is not exercising the power of the court.
Be that as it may by passing restrained order by the council as well as the earlier order notified in notification no 529/(2)/2007 issued by the president of Pakistan which is equally contrary to the constitution I have suffered as under
(A) Detained for all intend and purpose with my family members including my infant child of 7 years from the evening of march 9th, 2007 uptill now. My official residence is seiged with heavy contingent comprising police and member of other agencies. For which there is no justification.
(B) The vehicles which were in my use have been taken away by means of a lifter. Out of which one has been brought back by a lifter without its keys.
(C) Staff of Supreme Court attached with me is reportedly missing and had been kept at an unknown place. I believe that they have been detained just to fabricate evidence against me. I have also learned reliably that my chamber was also sealed and reportedly files lying there in have been removed and some of them had been handed over to ISI under the supervision of newly appointed registrar. Such act is contrary to all norms and practices. I being CJP is entitled to occupy my chamber along with my staff.
(D) On account of deployment of heavy contingencies I am not allowed to go outside nor my family members are allowed to do so. Similarly no one is allowed to meet me freely. In as much as my colleagues have no access to me and whenever they want to visit me they have to wait on the gate for a considerable period during which permission is sought from high ups. example of Mr Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed can be quoted as on one occasion he has to go back without meeting me. Similar treatment was offered to Mr Justice (Retd) Munir.A Sheikh.
(E) My children are not allowed to go to school, college and university. I am not getting facility of telephones, cable and DCL. Similarly I along with my family members have been deprived from basic amenities of life i.e medicines and doctor etc.
(F) No panel of lawyers is available to discuss the legal and factual issues involved in this reference. This fact I have already highlighted on the notice received on march 10th,2007.
A petition has been created by Pakistanis condemning this recent attack on the judicial system in Pakistan, if you believe in the sovereignty of Pakistan then you must definitely sign the petition and forward it to all Pakistanis who may join the effort to raise their voice and be heard.
I, the hereunder signed, a citizen of Pakistan, wish and do hereby petition the President of Pakistan, to do as follows:
1. That the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, be reinstated2. That the Chief Justice of Pakistan be released forthwith from house arrest3. That all his inalienable rights (including the right to liberty) be restored forthwith4. That the hearing of any reference be done in accordance with the law and in an open fair and transparent manner and that at any and all such hearings the media and other impartial observers be permitted to attend5. That the Supreme Judicial Council be re-constituted with fair and impartial members
Filed Under (Pakistan) by Teeth Maestro on March-13-2007
Copy the code of the image you like and paste it in your blog or website to show your protest against the recent events where a mockery was made of the judiciary
Filed Under (Pakistan) by Bolshevik on March-13-2007
Pay special attention to the bits in bold.
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has viewed with serious concern the spate of news items, comments, views and statements appearing in the print and electronic media, since reference to the Council of the case of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, which is a highly sensitive, constitutional and legal matter.
The Council Members have also noted that the leaders of various political parties, senior government functionaries, members of the legal fraternity and Bar Councils have been both directly and indirectly voicing their views on the subject which is subjudice, said a press release issued Monday by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
“The Judiciary of Pakistan and all members of the Supreme Judicial council are committed to upholding the freedom of press and information and the right of every citizen of the state of Pakistan to be kept informed of the proceedings of the Reference through the media.
In this regard, an appropriate mechanism is being put in place so that the people are kept informed and updated of the day to day proceedings.
Keeping in view the intricate legal and constitutional nature of the matter, and the sworn duty of the Council for the dispensation of justice, all members of the Supreme Judicial Council are unanimous in their decision to advise all sections of the society, including government functionaries to refrain from any comments on the reference.
The Supreme Judicial Council would also like to advise the print and electronic media not to resort to either publishing or airing any comments on the subject of the Reference, which could be viewed as prejudicial to the proceedings before the Council. APP
THE NEWS - ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar repeatedly hurled naked abuse in a live Voice of America (VoA) radio discussion on chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry’s deposition, which was heard worldwide on Monday night.There were three participants in the telephonic discussion — Wasi Zafar, constitutional expert Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations, The News, Islamabad.Ansar joined the talk a bit late and said he fears to say anything because of Wasi Zafar’s peculiar temperament and track record. As he uttered these remarks, the law minister came in and said whoever gives him a “big arm”, he would do the same to his family.
A petition has been created by Pakistanis condemning this recent attack on the judicial system in Pakistan, if you believe in the sovereignty of Pakistan then you must definitely sign the petition and forward it to all Pakistanis who may join the effort to raise their voice and be heard.
