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Government will accept court orders if Ashraf is disqualified: Aitzaz Ahsan
Ahsan says judiciary is not playing politics, but some political elements are using it for their nefarious gains.
Ahsan says judiciary is not playing politics, but some political elements are using it for their nefarious gains. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE
LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) senior leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said on Tuesday that if the Supreme Court removes Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the NRO implementation case, then his party will accept the orders and appoint a new premier.
Ahsan, while addressing a press conference at his residence, ruled out chances of finding any ‘middle way’ in the case. “There is no middle way in the contempt proceedings against Ashraf as the Supreme Court is bound to remove prime ministers in contempt cases like it did in the case of Yousaf Raza Gilani.”
He said that the PPP has decided to let the parliament complete its tenure till March 2013 and if the court removes four more premiers then the parliament will present and elect dozens more till the end of its tenure. He added that neither can the Supreme Court dissolve the parliament nor the parliament can oust the entire judiciary.
When asked if the government will take any action against the apex court, Ahsan said, “I assure the people of Pakistan that the government would never exercise any such tactics which degrades the judiciary.”
“Till March 2013, the Supreme Court will remain engaged in sending back premiers while the PPP-led coalition government is determined to elect more prime ministers,” he maintained.
Is judiciary playing politics?
When asked if the judiciary is playing politics, Ahsan said, “The judiciary is not playing politics, but some political elements are using it to achieve their nefarious goals.”
He added that in the NRO implementation case, the judiciary is on the wrong track.
Ahsan further said that the Article 248 of the Constitution clearly restricts the premier to proceed against the president of Pakistan, but the judiciary is on a mission to send back elected prime ministers instead of honouring the Constitution.
He said that the apex court, instead of only hearing political petitions, should focus on the problems of ordinary people like issues pertaining to registration of FIRs, issuance of stay orders against the construction of their houses, and decide hundreds of pending cases of civil and criminal nature.
He also advised the political parties to not approach the courts in each and every issue.
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Reader Comments (25)
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Yeh kiss tarah ka civilized drama hain kuch samaj main nahin aaya!
One thing I can say as a man a law is that, this judiciary of yours has blatant disregard for your constitution. They don’t have any respect for the established and codified principles of judicial process.
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Aitezaz eloquent, logical and crystal clear as always, amazing person, honest politician, an asset of Pakistan, PPP is lucky to have leaders like that, it surely doesn’t deserve it.
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Need stricter punishments for the disqualified PMs then. And some common sense medicine for PPP
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A double standard man. Good Governance stops people approaching Supreme Court. Instead of advising the Government to mend itself and solve peoples problems, do something for the welfare of the people, stop corruption, work he maligned the judiciary. He is well aware that the cases were registered before Zardari became the President. Amazed people sell themselves at a such low price.
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The dead anaconda was raised from the ashes by Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Malik Munir. They must be feeling guilty about their role today. Judiciary has never provided justice to the common people in Pakistan checkered history. Ch Iftikhar is no different. The repentance of Aitzaz Ahsan, Malik Munir and Kurd is quite visible whenever they are asked pointed questions.
Today the anaconda is consuming those who saved it.
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It’s a shame; he needs to go and read the constitution again, specifically article 248 that he is referring to.
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Aitezaz i was fan of you and your intellectual until you exercised it in the right direction , now i damn care what ever you say n what ever you do, you had a much high value but you fall on a senate seat . so stop advocating the pathetic people.
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@Engr.Waqas:
And who are you again sir? Did you add Engr, just to make yourself sound a bit credible or it was meant to satisfy you ego? Either way Pakistanis don’t care about the comments of a few bunch who have recently developed a love for judiciary and democracy. But this love is restricted only if it is targeted against the PPP.
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Now you are talking, Aitzaz! :-)
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I just wonder why Mr Itzaz Ahsan doesn’t go to court and tell them that these articles of the constitution of Pakistan give immunity to the president so that is the reason letter cannot be written. He and his fellows from PPP saying all this day and night infron of the cameras but they don’t tell the court. I think this issue will once for all if they just go to the court and present those articles of constitution which give the immunity ( probably judiciary don’t know these articalls and they don’t know the constitution either) So Please PPP leaders go and tell the judiciary, it will be good for the country
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A battle he may win but he has already lost the war
How wise was musharaf and what an insight zardari had in this mans character that both wanted him out Now this is a monster out of control. Hiding behind the dignity of judiciary this man is atacking the foundations of pakistan. The same judiciary will treat all other parties in the same way , contempt. The politiciams suporting him today will repent like Aitzaz Kurd Munir and othersRecommend
I am from USA, nothing offensive.
I was wondering when you cannot respect your justice systems for one person – how can you expect progress in economic,social and educational standards.Recommend
@jibran:
And Pakistani’s certainly don’t for your blind love for the ppp.
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Pakistan is really making a fool of itself on the international stage…What a pity.Since the day CJ has come things have been going drastically wrong.Why doesn’t someone get rid of him.Recommend
Yes, you sold out for Senatorship and while you say that Parliament will appoint several more prime minister but you neglected to say that it is all for the sake of one person. You have no credibility left and majority of the Pakistanis can see through you now. It is the judiciary which will interpret the constitution and not you or the PPP. Article 248 has been interpreted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan differently than you do and it really does not make any difference what you think because you are also a politician and supporter of that person.Recommend
@Jacob:
Could not agree more with you on this. Lack of justice is the main thing holding us back. You can see from the comments how twisted peoples has become
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@Aneez:
Right, and they are earning a good name for the corruption, poor governance and lack of law & order
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sounds like the carrot (Aitzaz) and stick (Faisal Raza Abidi) strategy, something similar to what the US employs against Pakistan where we see conflicting statements from the State Dept and CIA…
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@jibran:
Jibran 1st and foremost thing, you are not my employer that i produce my degree to you so that you can see a big NED UET on top of it , but wait you are a die-hard fan of Zardari led PPP so trust me you don’t have to get influenced with the degrees . praise your lord Zardari n you will get good job seriously.
Being brother i have given you this advice and it is 100% approved and being used by people like you who blind followers of their peers.
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Mr. Aitzaz would you like to be the Next PM? Please do so.. this will be a twist in the Drama.
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Well if it takes about 02 months to kick a PM out, then we require another 4-5 jialas. Sure PPP can provide these many. Last heard Mr. Dasti was ordering a sherwani.
Sadly the country is going down the drain and the musical chair continues.Recommend
@Engr.Waqas:
Sadly, what non-entities like you say is of no consequence. What established stalwarts because of whom this “barbaad” adlia is breathing fire is what matters today and will be quoted by history. Why are you disappointed with Aitizaz alone. Each leading lawyer who had hopes with thi judiciary is frustrated with what is going on; Asma, Kurd, Munir, Khosa, etc. Engineer sahib, keep constructing a sewer somewhere. Politics seems beyond your limited comprehension.
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So by this logic, if criminal don’t stop from committing crimes, the courts should then back off? Sir as long as they are doing the crime, they must be punished. Actually the punishment should be even harsher each time a new lota comes out to challenge the basic principles of justice — just to defend one man.
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@Zaheer:
Sorry, what these so called stalwarts says does not matter either. What matters is Justice. If Asma, Kurd, Munir Khosa and sundry are frustrated so be it.
Justice needs to be implemented and the PM, President etc are not above law.
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It would be unfortunate if the current prime minister is also disqualified and a contempt notice is issued to the president. These actions would be an extremely destabilizing development, especially if the PPP-led federal coalition decides to appoint a new prime minister who also refuses to write the letter. Will the Supreme Court then disqualify him? There is another dimension to the current political situation in Pakistan. We are witnessing another type of power struggle between the elected institutions and non-elected state institutions. In the past, this struggle was between the non-elected military and the elected civilian institutions. Now, the non-elected Supreme Court is endeavoring to expand its domain at the expense of the elected parliament and the elected executive. Such an effort can strengthen the position of the Supreme Court in the political system but it cannot rectify the ills of the political system or remove the so-called corrupt politicians from the political scene. It would mere result in destabilization of nascent democracy. Judiciary must show some restraint because another blow for democracy could be fatal.
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