Anxious moments in the SC
"We have information that the media reports are true. We have enough material to prove it," says CJ.
ISLAMABAD:
There was tension and suspense almost visible inside the packed Courtroom No 1 of the Supreme Court, which took up a case on Friday that, according to many, has the potential to change the country’s political dynamics yet again.
The tension was so intense that the otherwise calm and composed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry fumbled at times while dictating the final order.
Other judges also looked visibly perturbed and anxious.
The soft-spoken Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq had to face a barrage of questions from the 17-member full court, when he told the bench that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had sought time to submit a written statement to clarify his position regarding media reports which suggested that the government was planning to fire judges of the superior courts by withdrawing the executive order of March 16, 2009, which had restored them to their posts.
“We have assembled here for a reason. We have credible information that the constitutional governance is under threat in this country and your (attorney-general’s) reluctance to clarify the situation is adding fuel to the fire. It makes us believe that media reports are true,” observed Justice Saqib Nisar. And then the more outspoken Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said: “The whole nation has been glued to television screens for the past 24 hours. We are being accused of creating panic, but there is no word from the government.”
“Can you clearly state here that judges cannot be removed (in any manner) other than what is prescribed in the Constitution,” questioned Justice Sair Ali. But the attorney-general did not respond, raising the already high tempers further.
“The prime minister does not have even two minutes to tell you (the attorney-general) that there is no such plan?” asked Justice Jawad S Khawaja.
There was only one occasion when the attorney-general tried to defend the government. He objected to the Supreme Court order in which it directed the government to carry out an inquiry into the media reports.
At the end, the chief justice dropped a bomb-shell, while addressing the attorney-general. “Let me tell you that we have information that the media reports are true. We have enough material to prove it. But we are still observing restraint.”
“Come out with the truth now,” urged Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry seconds before he adjourned the hearing till Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2010.
There was tension and suspense almost visible inside the packed Courtroom No 1 of the Supreme Court, which took up a case on Friday that, according to many, has the potential to change the country’s political dynamics yet again.
The tension was so intense that the otherwise calm and composed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry fumbled at times while dictating the final order.
Other judges also looked visibly perturbed and anxious.
The soft-spoken Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq had to face a barrage of questions from the 17-member full court, when he told the bench that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had sought time to submit a written statement to clarify his position regarding media reports which suggested that the government was planning to fire judges of the superior courts by withdrawing the executive order of March 16, 2009, which had restored them to their posts.
“We have assembled here for a reason. We have credible information that the constitutional governance is under threat in this country and your (attorney-general’s) reluctance to clarify the situation is adding fuel to the fire. It makes us believe that media reports are true,” observed Justice Saqib Nisar. And then the more outspoken Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said: “The whole nation has been glued to television screens for the past 24 hours. We are being accused of creating panic, but there is no word from the government.”
“Can you clearly state here that judges cannot be removed (in any manner) other than what is prescribed in the Constitution,” questioned Justice Sair Ali. But the attorney-general did not respond, raising the already high tempers further.
“The prime minister does not have even two minutes to tell you (the attorney-general) that there is no such plan?” asked Justice Jawad S Khawaja.
There was only one occasion when the attorney-general tried to defend the government. He objected to the Supreme Court order in which it directed the government to carry out an inquiry into the media reports.
At the end, the chief justice dropped a bomb-shell, while addressing the attorney-general. “Let me tell you that we have information that the media reports are true. We have enough material to prove it. But we are still observing restraint.”
“Come out with the truth now,” urged Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry seconds before he adjourned the hearing till Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2010.