PCO judges: Asma hits out at SC decision

SCBA president condemns apex court's decision to revoke the status of PCO judges.

HYDERABAD:

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jehangir condemned the apex court’s decision to revoke the status of PCO judges.

“Such ‘panchayti’ judgments are not acceptable,” Asma said, while addressing lawyers at the Hyderabad district bar. Terming the order a ‘third degree treatment’ in police parlance, she equated weapons used for torturing detainees by the police with the judges’ pens. “This pen is not for settling your personal rivalries,” she said in reference of the Supreme Court judgement authored by the chief justice.

She reminded the chief justice of the promises made to the bar after he was deposed. Asma also criticised Parliament and termed democracy “a change of faces” and accused generals of calling the shots. “Our chequered history testifies that their decisions have been a failure.” Asma questioned if judges are appointed on merit. According to her, judges from minority communities are also being discriminated against.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2011.