Sunday, March 9, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Police Fired tear gas at Lawyers and Civil Society's Protest at Judges Colony
ISLAMABAD: Police fired tear gas shells when lawyers and members of the civil society reached outside Judges Colony on Monday and tried to remove the barbed wires to reach the residence of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. 
The police fired tear gas at scores of demonstrating lawyers, who were demanding that President Pervez Musharraf reinstate Justice Iftikhar.
Helmeted police in riot gear fired several canisters at about 200 lawyers who were shouting slogans outside the residence of Justice Iftikhar. The protesters dispersed and then they regrouped and started chanting slogans against police. They headed towards Ministers' Colony but the police prevented them to do so. Many lawyers were seen coughing and bending over after being hit by clouds of acrid smoke. " alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173812788342859554" />
The protesters picked up the tear gas canisters and threw them back at policemen who retreated before regrouping. The lawyers had gathered outside the CJP residence after hearing unconfirmed television reports that the government had lifted the house-arrest restrictions on his wife and three children.
The lawyers became agitated when it became apparent that the reports were apparently incorrect.
"Free the children, Go Musharraf Go!" the lawyers shouted. They also demanded entry into the CJP house, which is surrounded by barbed wires.
The protestors also tried to attack the vehicle of Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Justice Malik Abdul Qayyum, who was on the way to his official residence situated at the Ministers' Colony.
Earlier, Interior Ministry's official met CJ Iftikhar and offered conditional release to him and said that his family members were free to move any where and children were allowed to go their academic institutes.
The Interior Ministry official told the CJP that he would be released if he agreed that he would not go to the Supreme Court.
According to the source, Justice Iftikhar said that he would not accept any condition and that he would visit the SC right after his release so that he could call his fellow judges to form a full-court bench to further proceed with Justice (r) Wajihuddin's petition upon which the Supreme Court would nullify the emergency rule, enforced by the then chief of army staff (COAS).
Later, the lawyers and civil society workers went to the Secretariat police station where they submitted an application to register a first information report (FIR) against the illegal detention of Justice Iftikhar and his family. The Secretariat police station received the application and told that it would consider it for FIR.
The application says that a criminal case be launched against President Pervez Musharraf, interior minister, interior secretary, chief commissioner, inspector general, deputy commissioner, senior superintendent of police and other officials of the Islamabad Administration for keeping Justice Iftikhar and his family under illegal and undeclared house detention.
Online adds: Caretaker government while deciding to suspend the detention orders of family members of deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry and other deposed judges has allowed them to move freely.
Sources privy to Islamabad administration told the then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges who had not taken oath under PCO were house arrested along with their family members following November 3 steps.
The caretaker government had released the detained lawyers and in the second phase the family members of house arrested judges had been allowed to move freely. They can go every where including schools, markets, colleges and other places and meet other people. However deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other deposed judges will remain house arrested.
(courtesy The Post)
The police fired tear gas at scores of demonstrating lawyers, who were demanding that President Pervez Musharraf reinstate Justice Iftikhar.
Helmeted police in riot gear fired several canisters at about 200 lawyers who were shouting slogans outside the residence of Justice Iftikhar. The protesters dispersed and then they regrouped and started chanting slogans against police. They headed towards Ministers' Colony but the police prevented them to do so. Many lawyers were seen coughing and bending over after being hit by clouds of acrid smoke. " alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173812788342859554" />
The protesters picked up the tear gas canisters and threw them back at policemen who retreated before regrouping. The lawyers had gathered outside the CJP residence after hearing unconfirmed television reports that the government had lifted the house-arrest restrictions on his wife and three children.
The lawyers became agitated when it became apparent that the reports were apparently incorrect.
"Free the children, Go Musharraf Go!" the lawyers shouted. They also demanded entry into the CJP house, which is surrounded by barbed wires.
The protestors also tried to attack the vehicle of Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Justice Malik Abdul Qayyum, who was on the way to his official residence situated at the Ministers' Colony.
Earlier, Interior Ministry's official met CJ Iftikhar and offered conditional release to him and said that his family members were free to move any where and children were allowed to go their academic institutes.
The Interior Ministry official told the CJP that he would be released if he agreed that he would not go to the Supreme Court.
According to the source, Justice Iftikhar said that he would not accept any condition and that he would visit the SC right after his release so that he could call his fellow judges to form a full-court bench to further proceed with Justice (r) Wajihuddin's petition upon which the Supreme Court would nullify the emergency rule, enforced by the then chief of army staff (COAS).
Later, the lawyers and civil society workers went to the Secretariat police station where they submitted an application to register a first information report (FIR) against the illegal detention of Justice Iftikhar and his family. The Secretariat police station received the application and told that it would consider it for FIR.
The application says that a criminal case be launched against President Pervez Musharraf, interior minister, interior secretary, chief commissioner, inspector general, deputy commissioner, senior superintendent of police and other officials of the Islamabad Administration for keeping Justice Iftikhar and his family under illegal and undeclared house detention.
Online adds: Caretaker government while deciding to suspend the detention orders of family members of deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry and other deposed judges has allowed them to move freely.
Sources privy to Islamabad administration told the then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges who had not taken oath under PCO were house arrested along with their family members following November 3 steps.
The caretaker government had released the detained lawyers and in the second phase the family members of house arrested judges had been allowed to move freely. They can go every where including schools, markets, colleges and other places and meet other people. However deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other deposed judges will remain house arrested.
(courtesy The Post)
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Aitzaz Ahsan could be set free any time
ISLAMABAD: Punjab government has released the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Aitzaz Ahsan, the sources told Geo News
Punjab Home Department has withdrawn police deployed at the residence of Aitzaz Ahsan, the sources added.
Earlier, Punjab Home Secretary, Khusro Pervaiz said that the government of Punjab has decided to release Aitzaz Ahsan, following the completion of the first phase of transfer of power with the final results of elections now announced.
Aitzaz Ahsan could be set free any time, as the security cordon around his residence being withdrawn, he added.
(courtesy Geo News)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Chief Justice Of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry Predicted Victory.
KARACHI: Suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry predicted that “victory is in sight” and soon, the judges and judiciary would be restored to their pre-November 3 state.
He predicted this while addressing members of the Sindh High Court Bar Association via telephone from his residence in Islamabad, where he has been detained since being removed under an executive order by President Pervez Musharraf. Justice Iftikhar sounded very optimistic of his triumph and restoration as the CJP.
“The power to rule and the highest offices are short lived, but, long live the traditions and principles set by an individual. Judgments, strictly as per law and constitution, are remembered even centuries after,” he said, adding that “victory is in sight”.
He praised the continuing struggle of the lawyers, judges of the superior courts, civil society and the media for the restoration of the judges and independence of the judiciary.
He demanded “accountability of those who endangered the solidarity of the country” for their individual gains and benefits. The supremacy of law and constitution, in Pakistan, are indispensable if this country is to survive progress and prosper,” he said.
He once again declared the actions taken on November 3 as “illegal and un-constitutional”. A seven-member full bench of the apex court had declared the proclamation of emergency illegal, and also passed an order of restraint urging all judges not to take oath under the PCO. The judges who took an oath under the PCO validated the actions of November 3, he said.
“This is all illegal and unconstitutional. Everything done and decided by these courts are illegal,” he maintained. “The Parliament alone is competent to change and amend laws. Once these powers are surrendered by the Parliament, it will bring disastrous implications for the country and the Nation,” he warned.
He also mentioned the loan obtained by the current chief justice of Pakistan under the Saiban Scheme as a grade-22 officer.
“The time is coming when the law and constitution will be supreme. Judges will be restored and will give justice to the common man,” he said.
Justice (retd) Rashid A. Razvi, president of the SHCBA, thanked Iftikhar Chaudhry for his speech and assured him of support, from all the lawyers of Sindh, for an independent judiciary.
(courtesy Daily Times)
Aitzaz Ahsan Announces a week-long protest.
KARACHI: Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Aitzaz Ahsan announced on Thursday that lawyers would observe a week-long protest from March 9-16 in support of the judiciary.
The SCBA president made the announcement over telephone while addressing a general body meeting of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA). The first day of the protest coincides with the completion of a full year of the judicial crisis that started on March 9, when former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was suspended and President Pervez Musharraf sent a reference against him to the Supreme Judicial Council.
In his speech to the lawyers, Ahsan advised the president to quit and transfer power to representatives elected by the people. He also urged political parties to restore the pre-November 3 judiciary so that justice could be dispensed to the people of Pakistan. Ahsan said, “Political parties have shown their strength by securing a two-thirds majority in the parliament. They should now take steps for a free and independent judiciary. People voted them into power to acquire independence of all kinds, including independent of judiciary, free media and freedom of speech.”
(courtesy Daily Times)
Aitzaz Ahsan's detention may be Extended.
LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department Friday said Supreme Court Bar Association President Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan cannot be released before March 3.
While talking to a private news channel, Punjab Home Secretary Khusro Pervaiz Khan said the government had issued orders of his detention for 30 days, which was ending on March 3.
However, sources said the government was likely to extend the detention orders of Aitzaz Ahsan till a new government is formed.
The Home Department has taken strict security measures outside the residence of Aitzaz. Barriers have been erected and the road leading to his house has been closed for traffic.
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