Severe crisis, if Justice Iftikhar not restored, says Bhagwandas
Bureau Report

QUETTA—The retired Justice of Supreme Court, Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwan Das has warned of severe outrage and crisis in Country if the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was not reinstated on his post.
While addressing the lawyers’ convention arranged by Balochistan Bar Association, he also cautioned that the Country could ill afford such crisis, as it would affect the Federation and democracy.
He lauded the lawyers’ movement, which had been started for reinstatement, Judiciary, and supremacy of law and justice, and expressed his great dismay that judges were being kept under extreme pressure and were forced to perform against legal norms.
He also deplored the fact that a Province rich in minerals and natural resources was always deprived of its royalties and share by former governments and local feudals alike, hence the government should refrain from aggravating the situation further, and try to end any sense of deprivation among masses.
Rana Bhagwan Das also berated the reference filed against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, lauding the son of Balochi soil, who had the courage to forsake any kind of threat or/and greed for the sake of supremacy of law and Supreme Court, and paid glowing tribute to Balochistan Bar Association which did not lag behind other National Bars in rendering sacrifices for the sake of Federation and Judiciary.
Quoting the history, he reminded that independent Judiciary was first shattered in 1954, when the then Governor General tried to appoint a British CJ instead of other National judges, who resisted and had to pay the price in Maulvi Tamizuddin case.
He also cited, how amendments in clauses 4,5 and 6 of the 1973 constitution tended to shorten the tenure of judges in order to pressurize them into submission.
He said that the government’s decision to implement PCO was another step to stifle Judiciary, whence 60 judges were sent packing, while media was also gagged through PEMRA Ordinance.
He accused elements of trying to create hurdles in “The Murree Declaration” which promised the reinstatement of Judiciary within 30 days, and said that there was a notable difference in all the three PCOs, since Supreme Court delivered Justice within its defined parameters and never deviated from its lawful course.
He informed that only that judge could be reinstated by Parliament, who is suspended according to article 209 of the Constitution. The event was also addressed by president Balochistan Bar Association, Baz Muhammad Kakar advocate and others.
Meeting between the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML (N) head Mian Nawaz Sharif has been reported as inconclusive regarding lessening the judges’ tenure The president Bar Association, Aitizaz Ahsan has quoted that, “the Murree declaration “ does not provide about tenure of judges, adding that Nawaz Sharif has asked him to contest the by-polls from the constituency of NA-55. “ if Asif Zardari is interested from contesting the polls from there, I will welcome him, but will not take back my nomination papers”, he announced.
He stressed that President Musharraf will have to restore the judges, alleging that the President house had become the ultimate conspiracy which had become quite uncomfortable over restoring the deposed judges and was, hence creating misconceptions on the issue.
Aitizaz affirmed that, he had no doubt upon the reliability of main political parties and their leaders, since both the mainstream leaders have assured that the restoration of the deposed judges should be according to “Murree declaration”, excusing the Parliament for being too preoccupied to deliberate over the issue, adding that a mere executive order can reinstate the Judiciary.
Aitzaz said that in the presence of Zardari, Nawaz Sharif had affirmed about reinstating judges in the next 30 days, and Zardari did not amend the statement on the spot, which stands for his affirmation about reinstatement of Judiciary according to the terms of Murree declaration.
Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has rejected the announcement for the formation of Judges’ Scrutiny Committee and said that there is no mention of formation of Scrutiny Committee in the Murree declaration regarding the reinstatement of deposed judges.
This was announced by the newly appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, Sayed ur Rehman, Vice Chairman Rashid A. Rizvi, Hamid Ali Khan, Ali Ahmad Kurd, Munir A. Malik and others in a joint press conference after the Executive committee meeting here in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Chairman Pakistan Bar Council, Sayed ur Rehman has said that Executive Committee meeting has decided to postpone the Lawyers Convention which was schedule to be held on 26th April in Karachi.