LAHORE: After a malicious SMS campaign spreading messages against Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was discovered, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) probed Senator Faisal Raza Abidi’s possible link to the matter – but gave him a clean chit on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senator came under the spotlight earlier in August, when he held a provocative press conference, making allegations against the chief justice.
However, while Abidi has been cleared as far as the SMS campaign is concerned, according to sources investigations are ongoing with regard to his press conference and appearance in media generally, where he allegedly carried out a ‘malicious campaign against the judiciary’.
Abidi appeared before the FIA’s investigation team headed by Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Director Khadim Bhatti. A member of the FIA investigation team told The Express Tribune that during the course of inquiry, no evidence surfaced which proved any direct or indirect link between Abidi and the text messages, several of which were sent to the CJP as well.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Bhatti said the team have examined the TV talk shows and various media reports on the matter. He said that others concerned will also be summoned for interrogation.
Bhatti added that the FIA will determine whether Abidi’s comments were made in a deliberate attempt to malign the CJP and the Supreme Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2012.
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@Uza Syed: I agree with you 100%. However, the unelected but powerful SC judges, generals and their families have de facto immunity from prosecution in any court of law in Pakistan. We can single out Gen Zia for all our current political and social troubles but it were the Punjab HC and SC judges who had hanged the elected PM ZAB and got away with that like every other time. Thanks and regards, Mirza
So Faisal gets a clean chit but the investigators continue, allowed or instructed, to do his arm twisting and force him into submission when all the champions of 'rule of law' watch in silence. How about launching as serious a probe into what Chief Justice Mohammed Iftikhar Chaudhry's son has been involved in and what prima facie appears to be the role the Chief Justice Mohammed Iftikhar Chaudhry might have played in this crime. I'm not convinced that the Chief Justice of Pakistan and, at least, a few if not most of his brother judges in the Supreme Court do not appear guilty of partiality and thus obstruction of justice to protect the accused Arsalan Chaudhry the son of the present Chief Justice Mohammad Iftikhar Chaudhry. As a citizen I demand that we must know truth nothing but the truth and all criminals including those hiding behind veils of sanctity of this or that must be punished as severely and as ruthlessly as any criminal must be.