ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court late on Friday issued notices to the Prime Minister, Attorney General along with 10 other respondents in a petition challenging the contempt of court law.
President Asif Ali Zardari had on Thursday signed into law a bill which allowed the Prime Minister to criticise the Supreme Court.
According to a release, those issued notices include Prime Minister of Pakistan Raja Pervaiz Ashraf through his principal secretary to the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Secretariat, Islamabad, Federal Law
Minister, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Chairman, Senate of Pakistan through Secretary, Senate Secretariat, Islamabad, Speaker, National Assembly through the Secretary, National Assembly, Islamabad, Secretary Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, Secretary Establishment Division, Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad and Federation of Pakistan through Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Islamabad.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Prime Minister to write a letter to the Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against the President.
In order to offer some protection to the Prime Minister, the Pakistan Peoples Party had rushed the bills through the National Assembly and the Parliament despite strong opposition.
COMMENTS (43)
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Islamic laws say that the President / Caliph can remove the Judge / Qazi so lets strike down that first and this later! If President and Prime Minister don't have immunity than how can a PCO judge have one.
in 4 PPP trolls.... damn!
the chief justice must first decide the case of corruption against his family before deciding on the future of president and prime minister THEN he will be believed
If Asif Ali Zardari,the President of Pakistan,has committed any offence of corruption and malpractice to the detiment of Pakistan, he is bound to be called upon by the Supreme Court to defend himself against such charges.The cover up of the cases of corruption against him in the Swiss Courts is unacceptable.The Supreme Court of Pakistan is justified in directing the Prime Minister of Pakistan to write to the Swiss Authorities to reopen the cases against Asif Ali Zardari which were shelved by Musharaf on political grounds.Defying the Supreme Court order tantamount to contempt of Court.Any attempt by PPP government to undermine the jurisdiction of the Apex Court by hastily passing legislation empowering the Prime Minister to criticize the Judiciary is contemptible.
@Very 1: Agreed!
@Very 1: thats a gross understatement
The news has come that the signed bill is different of the bill passed by the Parliament. If this is true, SC should call both the copies and strike down the amendment immediately and also reprimand the members of Parliament and the President and the law minister be band to hold any public office.
@salim: It was the greatest disservice to Pakistan.
Was restoration a correct step??
@enlightened
Where does it says in constitution or any constitution plz enlightened us.
Parliament of any country is supreme and laws made by them cannot be struck down by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
I want Pakistan's stolen money back. No criminal should be protected by these phony acts. These thugs should be pursued till the end. Well done - the Supreme Court.
Hon Supreme Court should also look into the rumour that that Bill passed by National Assembly was different than what was passed by the Senate and both were different than what was signed by the President!
If the CJ wants to step in political domain....... he would be talked about......that is the reason Judicial restraint should be shown....otherwise the legislature has the absoulete right to pass laws and SC ONLY has the authority to intepret it...as is done in all civilized world... if not....it is a dangerous precedence......
Yeh Cheez.. Now we will see some Monson hangama.... This Tom & Jerry (SC & So called Democratic GOVT.) thing is really fun..
CJ, is he sincere with the Pakistan, he is making fun of the whole nation.He is paralyzing the whole govt. of Pakistan. Let these people work, they are going to face the general election,if the nation don't like them they will be out of the office. Let the people decide their fate.
Some sick minds will do irrepairable damage. Can someone stop this madness before we lose the country?
@Uza Syed: Unfortunately it paranoid mentality that petition was accepted before law was signed!!!
Why is the CJ not trying DG FC under contempt law? Unlike the PM, the DG FC even refuses to come to the court to testify. Plus whenever he is asked to produce missing persons, the dead bodies of those people are dumped on the streets? The CJ does not think that is contempt?
If only one man is required to create & dictate the law, then what is use of election in this country . . . ?????
@Wasim: When someone brings religion into an argument, it ceases any meaningful discussion. What the other person is going to say if he doesn't want to invite blasphemy on himself. At the same time those who practice it, they admit they lack in original ideas.
It is surprising to see how the public,opinion has changed and now mr chaudhry has lost all moral grounds Talk shows and media men can not shield mr chaudhry for long the commentators have been reduced to mere sloganism as they don't have any logic to defend him If he has to use contempt law to run the whole country then he is obviously standing on weak legs It is better for him to leave NOW
I beg to the government and SC to ceasefire. Don't they realize that the economy and law and order has gone to gutter.
According to qurannic verses," indeed Allah commands you for adel(justice)". The nation/society does not have a robust and fair justice system it suffers exactly the same problems as Pakistan is. I feel sorry for the people of Pakistan. When I read the comments of so called educated ones who have voice and they use it for the sake of saving the oppressors I think they then deserve the worst of it. As who knowingly promotes the wrongdoer he is of the same kind.
I think CJ should ask Parliament to take away those clauses against Islamic laws; if he is really sincere. Otherwise it will prove that he has some personal intentions!!!!!!
Another illegal action by this power hungry, corrupt judiciary in admitting for hearing an unlawful petition that has no legal standing whatsoever...For those who do not know, a petitioner before the SC must have have loci or legal standing to file hi petition. This is basic requirement which says that the petitioner must himself/herself be directly, actually and personally affected by the alleged complaint. In this case the new Contempt Act passed into law exempts the PM and cabinet ministers from being charged with contempt of court. The petitioner here is not directly affected by this new contempt law nor he has suffered or likely to suffer any real and actual harm or direct injury from this law. Allegations by a petitioner of an indirect harm or speculative or hypothetical injury of a general nature, such as the whole country would be affected by this law, is not enough to hear and admit this petition by the CJ....
So another unconstitutional act by the CJ, but who cares, sine anything goes in this country..CJ behaves as if he's above the constitution and laws don't apply to him...Pakistan is passing a judicial dictatorship. CJ does whatever he wants, he;s the king and people are his dumb subjects...What a shame
@Jibran Can you please compile all your thoughts in one comment for easier read? Thanks!
Zardari and his team have removed the pardah behind which Pakistan was being run by the establishment. Unfortunately they have not done this for altruistic reasons. History provided Zardari an heroic opportunity to pick up Pakistan when it had fallen badly - instead he and his team succumbed to their now familiar base instincts and raped, pillaged and burnt Pakistan while it was down.
I don't understand all the court hating going on. The PM MUST write a letter to the Swiss Government regarding the corruption cases or face the music. What's wrong with that?
Jeay Khalifa Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Only God knows what could be salvaged after this guy retires.
One person is single handedly destroying the country and the institutions. In a country, where bureaucracy and military refuses to obey civilian governments, his actions are further weakening the weakests.
Only one dude is above the law and that is His Highness Mr. Chaudhry. And then he selectively chooses to grant immunity to his loyal subjects, namely the Sharifs, the Arsalan Chaudhries, the Malik Ishaqs, and the Pashas.
Ek Tha Tiger and that tiger is CJ ,Keep bulldozing we are with you.
Because Your NRO-PPP Government will never stop doing mockery of Law,playing cheap politics and making laws for their own protection only.
Constitution is supreme. The government is playing possum. The only way to get rid of this situation would be a call for General Election.
Max , what a beautiful expression. Just pathetic. They talk of democracy. In democracy we talk, the Laws are interpreted by the Courts. Recently Obama, Health service bill was approved by Supreme Court. The present regime to save the corrupts are hastily passing lawas to tailor their needs
This reflects some kind of pathological condition and is sickening to watch. Please save us this agony; may be we as a nation are wrong and he is the only one who is right. However, please let us just be and leave us alone.
@Max: Can you please ask Mr. Zardari first?
Good. This law should be struck down ASAP. We are with CJ, sir. Ok, PPP trolls, on the roll !!!
Honest question: Can the court first prosecute Arsalan Iftikhar for proven corruption? Regards, Rehan
This guy is never going to stop it. Someone need to leash him.