Pakistan

Anxious moments in the SC

"We have information that the media reports are true. We have enough material to prove it," says CJ.

Kamran Yousaf October 16, 2010

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 16^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (10)

CHANDKA | 14 years ago | Reply SCP: Supreme Circus of Pakistan? It is attracting all the attention these days. But there is no dearth of other circuses and their characters in the country as well such as clowns, jugglers, magicians, acrobats, announcers, ring masters, lion tamers, other animals' trainers, gymnasts, performers, tight-rope walkers, act managers, script writers & the make-up & the costumes people. 63 years on, still going very strong! The show must go on ...

Zain Jamal Khan | 14 years ago | Reply The judges must have lost their penny somewhere at the news that their jobs are not as secure as they thought. i hope they would show the same anxiety when the jobs of other people are at stake because of their judicial activism. Isn't it a violation of Article 6 when the CJP is calling for the trial of the President while he is still in office and enjoys the immunity that has been bestowed upon him by the Constitution??? Shouldn't he be tried for high treason too???

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Fayyaz Haider | 14 years ago | Reply If government is quite sure that there was nothing but the roumer why not they investigate and prosecute the culprit. Ha ha this government always doing similar things. is there anybody in the country who has not seen Mr. Prime Minister saying the same statement in the Parliament regarding the position of executive order for judges restoration. What a nation we are. Those who are even not able to hang the killers of their leader Mrs. Zardari and not even have courage to prosecute Musharraf, how can they deliver to the nation. The honourable SC has washed their organ by giving historic judgement against violator of constitution now the burdan lies on the current governemnt to impliment the same and wash themselves from their past role of always making dictators hands strong.

taha | 14 years ago | Reply imran u r right

taha | 14 years ago | Reply all is happening in federal department no thing doing wrong in pujab............ha ha ha ha because Kh. sharif is there for sharifs

Imran Khan | 14 years ago | Reply If the judges have all the proof then why are they asking for an inquiry? what is the inquiry committee going to do? gather proof and then present it to the judges? why dont they act according to the proof that they have?

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 14 years ago | Reply If Chief Sahib has ample proof or evidence then why is he asking the government to investigate, simply to reject their findings so as to protect some in the Media Houses. Certainly, some in the media broke this story and this is the reason that three media houses have been served with notices. Why don't they use their own intellect rather than taking information from their spies in the media ? Please don't fall prey to these media persons who will only in the end look what is in their interest and perhaps some day come up with some stories about you as well, so please distance your selves from these Media Houses who will only do what their barons will ask them to do. By Night Function you people have only shown your weaknesses.

Malik R G | 14 years ago | Reply @Mir agree with u

kk tiger | 14 years ago | Reply This is our fate to suffer political jokers and judicial clowns. Their lordships have a complex. some senior most judges know deep in their hearts that they are not constitutional judges but have been restored through notification and by ridiculous judgements tried to create an illusion to satisfy their miserable egos that they were never removed, barricaded and locked in their houses for months.The Dogar court never existed and they never readily and obediently took oath under PCO. It seems their ego do not allow them to acknowledge that it was only elected govt (of PPP... which dampens further their miserable egos ) who dared to rescue and restore them, minutes after coming into power,through,of course, a notification to the positions they probably did not deserve. Our judges show clear prejudice and like proverbial wounded snake may bite same hands which restored them when they were actually down and out. Our superior courts have long been playing footsy with generals, agencies, vested interests and mos with most reactionary elements of the society. Their signs that this hedious game of scratching each others back is still going on unabatedTheir 'landmark' judgements are on record that will make reader laugh and cry at the same time. I donot recall who said in a piece of urdu poetry to describe our situation and its near translation in enlish is that ' its not enough to have mere eyes in this hexed city - one need to hang upside down in order to see straight ! Lets pray Almighty for forgivness of our all intended and unintended sins !

Mir | 14 years ago | Reply We the people of Pakistan have faith in the Supreme Court. This government has no credibilty, all that matters to it is things like 1 Hyde Park or the Normandy Chateau and Swiss accounts. Only if the PPP had made a fresh start and not be seen indulging in more corruption, the nation would have forgiven, because it wanted to do so. How sad and tragic to see the party of Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttto being disgraced in this manner.

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