Campaign against govt if judges not restored: Aitzaz
KARACHI – The March 9 2007 was a memorable day in the history of judiciary in Pakistan when Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry refused to obey orders of a dictator and provided a new life to his profession, said President Supreme Court Bar Association Atizaz Ahsan while addressing a general body meeting of Karachi Bar Association (KBA) through telephone here on Thursday.
Addressing a general body meeting held under the chair of President KBA Mehmoodul Hassan, he said that lawyers had given time to the upcoming government for the restoration of judges and if their demand would not fulfilled, the black-coats would launch a massive movement against the new government. He further said that a long march has been postponed because till March 9, new government would not take position therefore in this case the said move would remain ineffective. Aitzaz also announced that lawyers would observe the Solidarity Week from March 9 to March 16 to express their full support to the deposed judges and would organise meetings and rallies on this occasion.
“If deposed judges are not restored the coming generations would never forgive us. Those demanding two-third majority for the restoration of judges actually want to give power to the Army for removal of judges and impose emergency through a single order,” Aitzaz added.
He further said that 2/3 majority in Parliament only needed for new legislation and for constitutional amendment but for the restoration of judges there was no need for such majority. He further warned the politicians that if new government would not restore judiciary the people of country would suffer and any chance of free and fair justice would vanish.
PSCBA President further said that free judiciary was necessary for development of the country and if deposed judges are not restored the judiciary would not be able to stand up to any powerful person.
President KBA Mehmoodul Hasan and General Secretary Naeem Qureshi also spoke on the occasion.
Meanwhile a general body meeting of thr Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) was also held under the chair of SHC deposed judge Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that all steps taken by Pervez Musharraf from October 12 1999 to date are illegal and unconstitutional. He said that Musharraf had unconstitutionally removed a democratically elected government with tall claims to impeach corrupt politicians but later, through National Reconciliation Order (NRO), he abolished all corruption cases against the plunderers of national wealth.
He said that Musharraf levelled corruption charges against judges before international media; if deposed judges were corrupt they should not have been taken oath under PCO.
Justice Jamali said that due wrong policies of Pervez Musharraf Pakistan is facing insurgency while the Army was being used against the people of the country which is a great threat for the integrity of Pakistan.
He alleged that Pervez Musharraf had attacked and ruined all pillars of the state including media, judiciary, parliament and civil society. He saluted the ongoing lawyers’ movement saying legal fraternity was making a new history for the freedom of judiciary.
He warned the politicians of strong reaction from the public in case they back out their pledges regarding the restoration of deposed judges. He said that people had given vote against the policies of Pervez Musharraf in Feb 18 elections and refused to accept the military dictatorship.
President SHCBA Rashid A Rizvi also addressed the meeting while two other SHC deposed judges, Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Arif Hussain Khilji, were also present on the occasion.
Source: The Nation
Date:2/29/2008
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