Judicial dictators reject objections of federation on the 18th Amendment case
Today the larger bench of Supreme Court rejected federal government’s objections on the 18th amendment case, and issued show cause notices to the lawyer of the federation Dr. Abdul Basit and Advocate on Record. The objections of federation were about the fact that since Justice Zahid has been excluded from the bench, hence it is not a full bench court; the second objection was about Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary’s personal interests allied to this case; since Chaudhry is a party to the Judicial Commission for the judges’ appointment, he should not hear the 18th amendment case.
The lawyer of the federation said after the decision of the Supreme Court that Iftikhar Chaudhary and Khalil Ramday were actively asking the questions, against the federal government, while rest of the members of larger bench were quite during the proceedings. Dr Basit added that they forced me to identify the person who instructed to raise objections on the 18th amendment. Their sole aim appeared to be to malign Presidency.
Here is a relevant post on GEO NEWS about Supreme Court’s Decision:
| SC rejects objections of federation over bench formation |
Updated at: 1555 PST, Monday, May 31, 2010 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday rejected the objections of the Federation against the bench constituted to hear the constitutional petitions against the Eighteenth Amendment, Geo News reported Monday.
Earlier, the SC reserved the verdict after completing the hearing of objections against the bench constituted to hear the constitutional petitions against the Eighteenth Amendment. It should be mentioned that the SC announced to declare the verdict at 1130am; however, the apex court delayed its verdict after receiving a letter from the President’s Principal Secretary Salman Farooqui and left from the courtroom-1. The SC’s larger bench heard the objections of the federation; of them, the first related the non-inclusion of Justice Zahid and the second was about the CJ’s presence on the bench. After hearing again in the afternoon, the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry read the detailed ruling, saying that all the objections of the Fedetaion regarding the bench formation have been set aside. Also, the court issued show-cause notice to Dr Abdul Basit to mislead the court on intention. Earlier, the SC Registrar received Farooqui’s letter and handed it to the judges sitting in the courtroom, where everyone read it one after the other. In his letter, Salman denied the objections attributed to him regarding the bench formation. On this occasion, the Federation’s counsel Abdul Basit rose up and said he was on mistake in connection with his client; and hence, he should be punished. Basit pleaded he be heard afresh. The court affirmed he would be given the chance. Now, the court will resume its proceedings again today. The SC today resumed hearing of petitions challenging certain provisions of the 18th amendment, particularly the formation of a judicial commission for appointment of judges to the superior courts. The government’s representative Abdul Basit said that the chief justice, who is a part to the Judicial Commission for the judges’ appointment, should not be hearing the 18th amendment case and objected to the formation of the full court bench headed by the CJ. When the court asked Basit about the objections, he said he talked to President’s Chief of Staff Salman Farooqui, not the President, adding that he (Farooqui) objected to bench formation. The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry queried him why the President was contacted instead of the Prime Minister, urging him to put everything in black and white. The CJ said this is a case of great note; hence, its hearing would be open, which would invite no furrowing of brows. The federation’s counsel said, ‘To proceed with the case would be tantamount to trample the Constitution.’ The petitioner Counsel Akram Ssheikh said in defence, ‘The leveling objections to the bench is aimed at scandalizing the CJ office and the apex court.’ Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq said the objection of the federation on the SC bench is not up to the mark; however, the objection relating the CJ might hold water. On one occasion, the CJ said he could be benefited from the case only when his son or any of his relatives could be made judge, asking whether Farooqui would even now object to the formation of judicial bench. The CJ Chaudhry said the case of this magnitude and import might not come again with so many judges hearing it. Fifteen constitutional petitions were filed against some clauses of the 18th amendment. In particular they challenge the formation of the judicial commission under the 18th amendment to be against the basic structure of the constitution and independence of the judiciary. On the last hearing on May 24, the bench directed the lawyers for the federation to file a concise statement in response to the petitions. The court had also directed Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to place proceedings of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms before the court. |
i can’t understand what “farooqi” did today…
government should back Basit saheb bravely but it is like decieving Basit. First they told Basit and then denied that they didn’t say this so Basit has to be on a DOWN in court because of strange and big mistake by government official Farooqi
It is really betraying Mr. Basit. But actually what happened in SC was quite astonishing. Day in and day out the judges hear about objection from one party about their being member of the bench. We have never heard about the court asking about who has actually objected. It was Dr. Basit raising the objection and that was it. Why did the judge ask for identification of the person behind the objection. I remind about Ahmed Riaz Sheikh case when the same blind judge became angry on Justice retd Rasheed Rizvi for pleading the case of Sheikh. He is killing justice in the name of Independence of Justice. He should have separated himself even before the objection being an interested party as is done in routine.
PPP cheater and Looters, under the leadership of corrupt and choor Zardari , will destroy all the institutions of pakistan.
i think government is playing its cards to delay case as long as possible wether it is NRO 18th amendment or what ever they dont want SC to give verdict on these issues that is why they are always misleading.
Baber Awan is man behind this i think he is the one who is directing as law advisor to Presidents and priminnister houses.
In near future Babar awan will be witness against Zardari. If he can use Islam to cheat people , he can go to any extent to protect his wealth
Despite PM Gilani’s repeated denials it is clear that (his) government is openly stonewalling country’s justice system may it be mega corruption issues involving lawmakers, NRO or missing persons. It is opined that PPP government has exceeded Musharraf’s in undermining judiciary, constitution and law of the land. It is therefore important to end stonewalling of justice systems to protect national interests. By the government, it is meant the government of the day that has been allowed to run the state in according to the constitution after winning public mandate. Judiciary, as an organ of the state is the custodian of country’s constitution, and is under oath to protect interests of state not the government of the day.
Very strange about SC and CJ. The 18th amendment is unanimously passed by NA, elected by people of Pakistan. Why SC is aiming to target this democratic government, when there are so many cases pending and needs timely justice. My sincere suggestion to SC and specially CJ is to please strengthen the democracy and not to weaken it.
The Chief Justice is staging dramas in his Darbar. He has done nothing except trupetting about Swiss cases which can be simply described as blackmailing tactics of the establishment. These cases are like a MIRAGE. If he is really sincere about supremacy of law, he should first of all decide Shahid Orakzai case who is begging for justice but this bunch of judges are acting like stooges of the establishment’s blue eyed boys the Mian Brothers.
Now the image of Iftikhar Chaudhry is declining in general public of Pakistan because the common man of Pakistan is also feeling that it is not the Justice it is politics. Judiciary has proved itself as a contender of government along with political parties, establishment, army and media.. All judiciary including Chief Justice of S.C of Pakistan is quite on this issue because they are aware that how strong the INDUSTRIALISTS are in Pakistan! Mostly industrialists are in PML-N, PML-Q & PML-Hum Khayal. So it is clear that judiciary only wants to fight with PPP and its government because PPP took a time for restoring Iftikhar Chaudhry’s judiciary. Asma Jhangir, Ali Ahamd Kurd, Aitzaz Ahsan and other icons of Pakistan have also mentioned about the chances of emerging judicial dictatorship in Pakistan which will be very bad for whole nation.