ISLAMABAD, 26 May 2008 — Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said yesterday that the judges who colluded with President Pervez Musharraf and took oath under an amended constitution would be punished.
Addressing a lawyers’ convention in Faisalabad, Chaudhry said that hours after Musharraf declared emergency on Nov. 3 last year, the Supreme Court declared it illegal and restrained all judges from taking a fresh oath. But in spite of that some people violated the constitution and took fresh oath.
“Now the people have decided that there will be rule of law in the country and the fate of the country will now be decided in the light of the Nov. 3, 2007 orders and all those violating the Supreme Court’s Nov. 3 decision will be punished,” Chaudhry said.
Lawyers and other activists gathered at the convention to whip up support for a new round of protests aimed at pressuring the country’s new coalition government to restore the judges.
Chaudhry did not specify what he meant by punishment, but lauded the lawyers for their “sacrifices” in support of the “rule of law.” His strong comments came hours after the main ruling Pakistan People’s Party offered some details of a plan to reinstate the judges and change the constitution in order to reduce Musharraf’s powers. He said that in the past the judiciary gave decisions in accordance with the wishes of dictators. “Now the people have to decide as to which type of judiciary they want; the final decision lies with the people,” he declared.
Pakistan People’s Party chief Asif Ali Zardari said yesterday he wanted to strip Musharraf of the right to dissolve the country’s Parliament and to appoint military chiefs. But he also said Saturday that he would “engage the presidency” to try smoothing the passage of the provisions.
“We have never accepted Musharraf as a constitutional president but always said that we will keep a working relationship,” Zardari said, adding, “We intend to walk him away rather than impeach him away.”
Yesterday, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani — a Zardari party member — said the proposed package was not aimed at setting up a clash with Musharraf but rather at restoring a balance of power by giving the Parliament more authority. “Its objective is to balance the discrepancies... Confrontation with anyone is not our job,” Gilani told journalists in the city of Lahore, noting that previous amendments to the constitution had strengthened the presidency.
