The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday suspended firebrand Senator Faisal Raza Abidi from its core committee and issued a show-cause notice over his recent diatribe against the judiciary.
Media reports, meanwhile, said the lawmaker has also been barred from entering the presidency following his apparent contemptuous tone and overt criticism of the chief justice of Pakistan.
The PPP parliamentarian lashed out at Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry during a news conference a day earlier, levelling serious allegations against the apex court chief judge while asking him to step down.
Visibly upset over the new contempt law being nullified by the court, Abidi accused the chief justice of pitching two state institutions against each other. He also distributed copies of the bank statements of a company allegedly owned by the chief justice’s son Dr Arsalan and bearing the billing address of the CJP’s official residence.
“The Pakistan Peoples Party has served a show-cause notice to Senator Abidi, asking him to explain his statements within the next 10 days,” a senior PPP member told The Express Tribune, adding the notice was served by the party’s general secretary Senator Jehangir Badar.
Abidi’s personal staff confirmed the notice has been received by him.
The Supreme Court, on the other hand, asked for a record of Abidi’s news conference following a petition filed by Advocate Tariq Asad seeking contempt of court proceedings against the PPP legislator.
The petitioner, while pleading the court to take “strict action” against Abidi, also cited the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) as a respondent in the case.
On Sunday, Abidi demanded the resignation of all the judges who had earlier taken oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Abidi, who clarified the views expressed by him were solely his own and not the party’s, grew more brusque over the course of the conference. “My mission will continue till I throw the PCO judges out of the court. It is my promise to you [CJP] that the nation will send you home from the same passage you [judges] had been brought back to the courts.”
He also blamed the chief justice for his son’s alleged misdeeds, vowing to travel to London and Dubai in order to collect documentary evidence against Dr Arsalan, who is accused of receiving bribes from real-estate developer Malik Riaz.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2012.
COMMENTS (32)
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@Irtaza:
A very well written comment. Which makes sense as well. The rest are just shouting out without thinking. Cheers
He is one of the smart and eloquent speakers who always come prepared in every talk show. His way of questioning or speaking may well be offensive for many, but TRUTH hurts, doesn't it? So anyone who finds him offensive actually finds truth offensive.
@Jibran: So if he does take notice he (CJP) is right yeah? by your definition.
@Glenn Ryall: Unfortunately you need to just look at the people supporting his point of view to realize it's not just the politicians.
I agree with you whole heartedly though.
Zulfiqar Mirza Part 2.
We ,should not be emotionalised, rather use decent language for all. Action should be taken when somthing wrong is proven.Media is palying major role. they should have some obligations,like not to give live coverage to such conferences.Similarly the Stage shows- the private channnels run at night- must have some code of conduct.Because ,the hosts of these shows make the guests emotionalise and they speak out such nonsens , which do not suit them.
I never liked this guy, always seen him lashing out on TV sets with other politicians, at times i agree he made a point but then would sit to justify himself.
Our whole political system is filled with people these days with no ethical values or professional way of speaking, if these basic things are absent i do not get it how they can run the country.
@ Siddique Malik Well said. Fully agreed.
Sen Abidi's charges are too serious to be swept under the rug and require an independent investigation. In fact, Justice Chaudhry and his supporters should insist on such an investigation to clear his name.
What we do do know is that for several months, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry of Pakistan knew that his son was on the take from a notorious property baron Malik Riaz Husain, and yet he did nothing to stop his son's illegal activities. Mr. Chaudhry was too busy waging a much-needed jihad against corruption by other powerful individuals through his suo moto actions.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2012/06/chief-justice-iftikhar-chaudhry-should.html
@Saad: Only one reason... Mr. CJ's hands are tainted. He will never charge Mr. Abidi with contempt of court, as he knows that all points raised by the latter are valid.
I consider myself neutral when it comes to political affairs. But in this case, if you simply look at the questions Abidi has raised, you may disagree with the way he asked but his questions are genuine and perfectly valid. The CJP needs to explain his position clearly. Abidi should NOT be punished for asking these questions. The court can reprimand him but CJP has to come out clean. You cannot have one set of standards for Gilani's sons and another set of standards for Iftikhar Chaudhry's son.
Unfortunately, Arsalan Iftikhar has made his father controversial and this has deepened the polarization between the supporters and critics of the judiciary. I hope that Abidi is not punished for this. Rather the judiciary needs to realize that it is walking a fine line here. While the judiciary is popular amongst the masses, there is a significant population - particulary in Sindh - which believes the judiciary is vindictive against PPP.
My advice : Tread carefully CJP , tread very very carefully.
why PPP seems to be afraid of pco judges .
Actually there is truth in his press conference about "MR. Justice"
What's wrong with the PPP? It moves against the only person who has the courage to speak the truth. It wants everybody to behave like a coward and take illegal blows from the SC. That has turned the parliament into a laughing stock and CJ's servant body. It's an insult to the people who have elected it. I am not a PPP jiyala; far from it, were I voting in Pakistani elections, I would not vote for the PPP. Nonetheless, I fully support Senator Abidi's point that the CJ should have resigned over the episode involving the CJ's son. The people have never been told why the CJ met --albeit, when he was not in office -- Malik Riaz? What did they discuss and why? Moreover, the CJ interferes in the matters of the executive. Democracy depends upon all three braches -- legislature, executive and judiciary --- staying away from each other's domain. Under the CJ, Pakistan's judiciary has been acting as an opposition party. When the judiciary second-guessed the 18th amendment, it proved that it did not understand the basics of parliamentary democracy. The CJ and the PCO judges had no qualms in validating a clear violation of Article by a power-hungry generals, but won't let a PM do his job. Obviously they doing the generals' bidding.
Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@zK:
Just where he belongs !
and who recommended him for Senate? He should be punished and given time behind bars-6 months atleast
Abidi's charges are too serious to be swept under the rug and require an independent investigation. In fact, Justice Chaudhry and his supporters should insist on such an investigation to clear his name.
What we do do know is that for several months, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry of Pakistan knew that his son was on the take from a notorious property baron Malik Riaz Husain, and yet he did nothing to stop his son's illegal activities. Mr. Chaudhry was too busy waging a much-needed jihad against corruption by other powerful individuals through his suo moto actions.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2012/06/chief-justice-iftikhar-chaudhry-should.html
Pakistanis are at a point where they should be spending time working to make Pakistan strong and prosperous instead of creating events that cause disturbances. Mr Abidi would be well advised to apollogize unconditionally and not take up the court's time dealing with his pointless outburst.
@Batool Zehra:
Can you prove that Abidi is a liar.
He is the lowest of the low. I cannot stand this man.
Another goes to the bin !
This is exactly what he deserves. If he doesnt have proof, he should just shut up. Even the PML-N provided fake proof to back their claims. It is amazing the way people like him scream and how calmly the people who they are trying to sideline respond. I hope this is a notice for wannabes like him to leave the people of pakistan alone and let those who are trying to implement law and order and bring about social change work in peace
topi drama of PPP.... the new Zulfiqar Mirza in the making "Abidi, who clarified the views expressed by him were solely his own and not the party’s"
I wish this liar receives the maximum punishment and he tells the truth about who is actually behind his press conference. PPP failed again.
100% truth, but people's are just "Beghirat" . .!!!!
Another PPP pawn sacrificed.
Topi Drama.....He took PPP side. PPP will be mad to disown such a person for CJ, who they hate for forcing them to write to swiss. its all what they want us to see on front.Behind the scene its appluasing and 'ur the man' songs.
CJ is becoming one man moral brigade, Jaamia Hasfa Burqa style. Or he thinks he is Mughal emperor, ready to hang a bell outside his office, guarded by his cronies as to who is allowed to ring it.
The spokesman of the President Farhatullah Babar has dismissed such reports with respect to Faisal Raza Abidi as baseless. He also insisted that at least I out of all people would know if someone was banned from entering the Presidency.
The President knows that Faisal Raza Abidi has spoken for all jiyalas and we trust him that while he will follow the niceties issue show cause notice or maybe even remove him from CEC he will not abandon Faisal Raza Abidi.
If I own a place where illegal activity is being carried out, I'm answerable. In this case, the property in question was not even owned by Mr. CJ, but was officially rented out to him. He however treated it as his personal property (just like he did with an official vehicle earlier) to gave a free hand to his son to carry out his business interests from the official residence of a supreme court judge. This is a crime itself, he must step down.
why hasnt the CJ taken a sou moto on this yet?