Bulletproof retirement: Ex-CJP faces no specific threat, AAG tells court
Says judges should not be favoured because of their jobs
Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. PHOTO: PID/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry faces no specific threat to life or property and judges should not be favoured just because of their status.
These were among the arguments presented by Additional Attorney General (AAG) Afnan Karim Kundi on Wednesday in the former CJ’s bulletproof car case.
While concluding his arguments before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench of Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Aamer Farooq in the federal government’s appeal to reclaim the bulletproof car, Kundi said, “It should not appear as if judges are favoured simply for being judges. They should [only] be entitled to perks and privileges defined by the law.”
Kundi said the government was ready to provide security if there was any “specific threat” to secure the former CJP from.
He added that the respondents, Sheikh Ahsanuddin and Taufeeq Asif, were not representing any specific class of people, nor was their original case — demanding the car for the judge — in the public interest.
Citing different letters, the AAG said that there never was any specific threat to the ex-CJP. While commenting on general threats, he said, “Children are under threat…the whole country is under threat, could everyone be granted the same security [as Chaudhry].” Kundi said the IHC single bench had issued directives to provide a bulletproof car without considering the legal standing of the respondents or jurisdiction in the case.
He also said that it was not court’s role to get into the nitty-gritty of security issues or determining threat levels.
Apart from the bulletproof car, Kundi said that a 2400cc luxury sedan was given to Chaudhry, even though he could only avail an 1800cc sedan under his retirement benefits.
The AAG also gave the example of former CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, who declined security and route protocol even while he was a serving judge.
Meanwhile, Ahsanuddin and Asif filed a contempt application against the inspector general of the Islamabad Police, the DIG and the operations SSP for allegedly withdrawing a police mobile squad which used to escort the judge-turned-politician.
They prayed the court to issue notices to the respondents and initiate contempt proceedings.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2016.
Former chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Chaudhry faces no specific threat to life or property and judges should not be favoured just because of their status.
These were among the arguments presented by Additional Attorney General (AAG) Afnan Karim Kundi on Wednesday in the former CJ’s bulletproof car case.
While concluding his arguments before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) division bench of Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Aamer Farooq in the federal government’s appeal to reclaim the bulletproof car, Kundi said, “It should not appear as if judges are favoured simply for being judges. They should [only] be entitled to perks and privileges defined by the law.”
Kundi said the government was ready to provide security if there was any “specific threat” to secure the former CJP from.
He added that the respondents, Sheikh Ahsanuddin and Taufeeq Asif, were not representing any specific class of people, nor was their original case — demanding the car for the judge — in the public interest.
Citing different letters, the AAG said that there never was any specific threat to the ex-CJP. While commenting on general threats, he said, “Children are under threat…the whole country is under threat, could everyone be granted the same security [as Chaudhry].” Kundi said the IHC single bench had issued directives to provide a bulletproof car without considering the legal standing of the respondents or jurisdiction in the case.
He also said that it was not court’s role to get into the nitty-gritty of security issues or determining threat levels.
Apart from the bulletproof car, Kundi said that a 2400cc luxury sedan was given to Chaudhry, even though he could only avail an 1800cc sedan under his retirement benefits.
The AAG also gave the example of former CJP Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, who declined security and route protocol even while he was a serving judge.
Meanwhile, Ahsanuddin and Asif filed a contempt application against the inspector general of the Islamabad Police, the DIG and the operations SSP for allegedly withdrawing a police mobile squad which used to escort the judge-turned-politician.
They prayed the court to issue notices to the respondents and initiate contempt proceedings.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2016.