Frank speech by Iftikhar Chaudhry

[Saddle Bronc 124]

BBC Link

Suspended judge urges rule of law

Pakistan needs an independent judiciary and respect for the rule of law, its suspended chief justice has said.

Iftikhar Chaudhry was addressing lawyers in Rawalpindi in his first public speech since President Musharraf accused him of misusing his office.

"Failure to do justice shakes at the very foundations of nationhood," Mr Chaudhry told those present.

Protests have been held in cities across Pakistan over the suspension and consequent government actions.

Cheers

Many observers say Mr Chaudhry was removed because President Musharraf needs a pliant judiciary in a general election year.

Correspondents say the general also wants to legalise his own re-election without being forced to give up the post of head of the army.

Mr Chaudhry travelled to Rawalpindi from the nearby capital, Islamabad, in a convoy of cars and was met by supporters throwing rose petals

During the appearance at the Bar Association in Rawalpindi, Mr Chaudhry declined to comment on his own case.

He denies wrongdoing. The allegations against him are being looked into by a panel of fellow Supreme Court judges, the Supreme Judicial Council.

"The judiciary has to stand out as a strong entity that people can trust and have confidence in," the judge told the gathering of lawyers, to frequent applause.

"It is the strength of the institution to resist any onslaught on its working and capacity to decide cases, freely, fairly, impartially and expeditiously.

"A civilised society is unthinkable in the absence of a free, fair and impartial system of administration of justice."

Charges

Mr Chaudhry has a reputation for judicial independence which is said to have irritated President Musharraf.

The main charge against him is that he used his authority to have his son appointed to a prestigious government position.

Analysts say the situation has been made worse by the use of force against protesting lawyers, independent TV stations and the chief justice himself.

A delay of several weeks before producing a full charge sheet further undermined the government's position, correspondents say.

On Tuesday, President Musharraf said no one would be allowed to politically exploit his suspension of the chief justice.

He said opposition protests against the move had failed to attract mass support.

Notes:

• IMO, the part in red is on-the-nail (judging from past military rulers--NONE of whom have stepped down willingly)
  
• His statement is particularly of importance concerning the miltary--which has shown no compunction about SUPPRESSING laws ("Operation Searchlight" being a rather obvious example)
  

Edited March 28, 2007 by CherryXS

[almaty 19]

amen brother sriniv..pakistan is a mess and made worse by that chopf##k in office...maybe, he insult India so, he can get the miltant votes

[Saddle Bronc 124]

amen brother sriniv..pakistan is a mess and made worse by that chopf##k in office...maybe, he insult India so, he can get the miltant votes

doesn't work Dean--Mush has alienated:

• Punjabis (who constitute majority of the military) -- by being mohajir (they hate ANY other group ruling them)
  
• more than one of the Baloch tribes, by ordering a gunship hit on Nawab Akbar Bugti last year (FYI, Chaudhry is a Baloch)
  
• most factions of MQM -- by acting AGAINST this group during Zia's regime
  
• Sindhis -- like MQM, consider him sellout to Punjabi erstwhile mil rulers, now just consider him a power-mad CF
  
• Pushtuns -- by sending army into the tribal areas in the first place
  

As for winning militant vote, well--most of the militant Muslims are ethnically Punjabi or Pushtun tribal.

[almaty 19]

amen brother sriniv..pakistan is a mess and made worse by that chopf##k in office...maybe, he insult India so, he can get the miltant votes

doesn't work Dean--Mush has alienated:

• Punjabis (who constitute majority of the military) -- by being mohajir (they hate ANY other group ruling them)
  
• more than one of the Baloch tribes, by ordering a gunship hit on Nawab Akbar Bugti last year (FYI, Chaudhry is a Baloch)
  
• most factions of MQM -- by acting AGAINST this group during Zia's regime
  
• Sindhis -- like MQM, consider him sellout to Punjabi erstwhile mil rulers, now just consider him a power-mad CF
  
• Pushtuns -- by sending army into the tribal areas in the first place
  

As for winning militant vote, well--most of the militant Muslims are ethnically Punjabi or Pushtun tribal.

thank you sir, i feel i have a better understanding...allot of factions there..are the Pushtun tribal group big in afgan.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

amen brother sriniv..pakistan is a mess and made worse by that chopf##k in office...maybe, he insult India so, he can get the miltant votes

doesn't work Dean--Mush has alienated:

• Punjabis (who constitute majority of the military) -- by being mohajir (they hate ANY other group ruling them)
  
• more than one of the Baloch tribes, by ordering a gunship hit on Nawab Akbar Bugti last year (FYI, Chaudhry is a Baloch)
  
• most factions of MQM -- by acting AGAINST this group during Zia's regime
  
• Sindhis -- like MQM, consider him sellout to Punjabi erstwhile mil rulers, now just consider him a power-mad CF
  
• Pushtuns -- by sending army into the tribal areas in the first place
  

As for winning militant vote, well--most of the militant Muslims are ethnically Punjabi or Pushtun tribal.

thank you sir, i feel i have a better understanding...allot of factions there..are the Pushtun tribal group big in afgan.

Around 45% of Afghanistan's population, the Pushtuns ARE the largest ethnic group (includes President Karzai).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The irony is that Abdul Ghaffar Khan, aka Frontier Gandhi, was a Pashtun.... and a man of peace... at a time when the Punjabis (of both India and Pakistan) were anything but peaceful.

ETA: The time being referred to here is the run-up to independence from the British.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Gupt

[Saddle Bronc 124]

The irony is that Abdul Ghaffar Khan, aka Frontier Gandhi, was a Pashtun.... and a man of peace... at a time when the Punjabis (of both India and Pakistan) were anything but peaceful.

ETA: The time being referred to here is the run-up to independence from the British.

I guess because he had figured the con-man approach to be more fruitful than the armed bandit approach (he also got Rs. multi-crores out of India in the many visits there during his 41-year post-Partition lifespan).