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| Deposed chief justice confident of success, defiant |
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Monday, November 05, 2007
Justice Iftikhar tells ‘The News’ he will come back
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who was the prime victim of Saturday’s provisional constitutional order (PCO), is confident that he would stage a comeback and has reiterated that the present set-up is illegal and all the superior judiciary’s latest appointments have no validity.
Talking to The News on telephone here on Sunday night, Justice Iftikhar said that the seven-member bench of the apex court headed by him, which had stayed the PCO and had also restrained the judges of the superior judiciary from taking oath under the PCO, had left the present set-up completely illegal.
He said that the judges appointed in all the provincial high courts and the Supreme Court on Saturday and Sunday had no legal backing. “Everything that is happening today is illegal, unconstitutional and against the orders of the Supreme Court,” Justice Iftikhar said, adding that he was sure that the pre-November 3 situation would revive.
Sounding confident and relaxed, the Chief Justice said that he had neither done anything wrong previously when he was suspended on March 9 nor had he done any such thing now. “God has blessed me with success last time and I am sure that He would again bless me and other respected judges, who had refused to take fresh oath under the PCO, in a similar manner this time too,” Justice Iftikhar said.
Without referring to General Musharraf’s last night speech that contained a “charge sheet” against the judiciary, the CJ said that it was wrong to conclude that the judiciary had been lenient towards terrorists. He disclosed that he had never been lenient towards the terrorists but it was not possible for the judges of the Supreme Court to start punishing people without the availability of evidence against them.
Justice Iftikhar disclosed that out of his serious concern over terrorism, he set up a committee under him that included judges from each provincial high court to expedite terrorism cases. Every month, he said, the said committee used to meet and review the cases of terrorism to ensure that there were no delays.
Referring to the Lal Masjid case, the chief justice reminded that the division bench of the Supreme Court that passed strict orders including the rebuilding of Jamia Hafsa, release of those arrested, payment of compensation etc comprised Justice Nawaz Abbasi and Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, both of whom have now taken fresh oath under the PCO.
To a question, the CJ said that he is in high morale despite being confined by the government. He said that he has full faith in Allah Almighty and believes in the struggle for the rule of law and Constitution. “These are testing times for me from Allah and I will react to this situation in the same manner as is desired by the Creator of all,” the CJ said, revealing that although no one is allowed to visit him, a brother judge, who took oath under the PCO, visited him.
Justice Iftikhar showered praises on those brother judges, both in the apex court and the high courts, who refused to take oath under the PCO. In particular, he mentioned the name of Justice Javed Iqbal, who despite getting the opportunity to become the CJ of Pakistan on Saturday, refused to take oath under the PCO.
The CJ was determined to launch yet another phase of his struggle for an independent judiciary, rule of law and to uphold the Constitution. He was optimistic about the success of this struggle. He hoped that the media would also support the struggle for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary because only these would secure the future of Pakistan and its people.
The chief justice said that he had no skeletons in the cupboard so he was not afraid of anyone. “My faith in Allah is my strength,” he said, adding that he is sure that those fighting for the rule of law would emerge victorious.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
